Yoon's Side Appeals Life Sentence in First Insurrection Ringleader Trial... "We Will Never Stay Silent on the Contradictory Ruling"

"We Will Clarify the First-Instance Errors in Fact-Finding and Misinterpretations of Law"
Insurrection Special Prosecutor's Team Also Expected to Appeal... Held Internal Meeting the Previous Day

Former President Yoon Sukyeol, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in the first instance on charges of leading an insurrection, has appealed the ruling.

Former President Yoon Sukyeol attended the first-instance sentencing hearing on the charge of leading an insurrection related to the December 3 emergency martial law at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho District on the 19th. Provided by Seoul Central District Court. Yonhap News Agency

On the 24th, Former President Yoon's legal team stated, "At around 10 a.m. today, we filed a notice of appeal against the judgment in the insurrection ringleader case," adding, "We believe we have a responsibility to clearly record the problems in this decision, not only in the court record but also before the judgment of history in the future."

They continued, "Under that responsibility, we intend to expose the errors in fact-finding and the misinterpretation of law contained in the first-instance judgment," and added, "We will never remain silent about the overreaching indictment pursued by Special Prosecutor Cho Eunseok's insurrection investigation team, the contradictory reasoning of the first-instance court built on that premise, and its political backdrop."

Earlier, on the 19th, the 25th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Ji Guyoun) sentenced Former President Yoon to life imprisonment on the charge of being the ringleader of an insurrection. The court rebuked, "Former President Yoon directly and proactively planned the crime and involved many people in it," and added, "The emergency martial law caused enormous social costs, and it is difficult to find any indication that the defendant has expressed remorse for that."

Immediately after the sentencing, Former President Yoon's side issued a statement, saying they were in "such a devastating state of mind that we cannot utter even the bare minimum phrase that we respect the judiciary's decision," and strongly condemned the trial as "a mere formality to reach a predetermined conclusion." In contrast, the special prosecutor's team described it as "a meaningful ruling," but also expressed regret regarding the determination of the sentence and the underlying findings of fact.

The special prosecutor's team is also reported to have held an internal meeting the previous day and decided to appeal, citing an unjust sentence and misinterpretation of law.

Former President Yoon was indicted and brought to trial in custody in January last year on charges of instigating a riot for the purpose of undermining the constitutional order, including the proclamation of emergency martial law on December 3, 2024. He is also accused of attempting to arrest and detain key figures such as President Lee Jaemyung (then leader of the Democratic Party of Korea) and former People Power Party leader Han Donghoon, as well as blocking the National Assembly to obstruct its resolution to lift the emergency martial law.