Notice of Appeal Filed Just Three Days After First Trial Verdict
Yoon's Side Claims "Court Provoked Contestation of the Verdict"
Special Prosecutor's Team Also Expected to Appeal Soon
Former President Yoon Seok-yeol appealed on the 19th, three days after being sentenced to five years in prison in the first trial for obstruction of arrest, stating that the verdict "seriously undermined trust in the judiciary."
On the 16th, citizens were watching the trial in the Seoul Station waiting room, where the court sentenced former President Yoon Seok-yeol to five years in prison in the first trial for charges including obstruction of arrest and infringement of the Cabinet members' deliberation rights. 2026.1.16 Photo by Kang Jinhyung
On the afternoon of the same day, Yoon's legal team held a press conference in Seocho-gu, Seoul, and announced that they had submitted a notice of appeal to the court.
Earlier, on the 16th, the 35th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Baek Daehyun) sentenced former President Yoon to five years in prison for charges including obstruction of special official duties and abuse of authority. This is half the 10-year prison term requested by Special Prosecutor Cho Eunsuk's team for insurrection.
The legal team argued, "Although the first trial court had initially announced January 16 as the date for closing arguments, it abruptly changed it to the sentencing date without sufficient explanation. In that process, the court summarily dismissed all evidence requested by former President Yoon's side without a specific review, seriously undermining the appearance and trust of a fair trial."
They further claimed, "Given the public interest and historical significance of this case, the first trial court failed to address the most critical issues and caused the parties to contest the verdict," asserting that the court's judgment was unlawful.
Former President Yoon was additionally indicted by the special prosecutor's team in July last year for allegedly obstructing the execution of an arrest warrant by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) in connection with the 12·3 Martial Law. He is also accused of drafting a post-facto martial law proclamation and infringing on the deliberation and voting rights of nine Cabinet members regarding martial law. Other charges include disseminating false information to foreign media and destroying evidence related to a secure phone.
The court explained its sentencing by stating, "As president, he had a duty more than anyone else to uphold the Constitution and maintain legal order, yet he disregarded procedural requirements established to prevent arbitrary actions and abuse of power by the president under the Constitution and relevant laws. He continued to offer unconvincing excuses and showed no remorse for his wrongdoing."
However, the court took into consideration as a mitigating factor that former President Yoon had no prior criminal record and was a first-time offender. It also noted that, in the cases of falsifying official documents, violating the Presidential Records Act, and damaging official documents, he did not actively lead these crimes. He was found not guilty of instructing the dissemination of a press guidance (PG) containing false information to foreign media and of using false official documents.
The special prosecutor's team is also expected to file an appeal soon. Immediately after the first trial verdict, the team stated, "The special prosecutor will thoroughly review the sentencing and the reasons for partial acquittal for former President Yoon Seok-yeol through an analysis of the court's written judgment."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
