Yoon Suk Yeol has decided not to file a constitutional appeal regarding his confirmed seven-year prison sentence for obstructing the execution of an arrest warrant.
According to the Chosun Ilbo on July 19, Yoon and his legal team have resolved to accept the Supreme Court's ruling on charges of obstructing special public duties and abuse of power, opting not to pursue a separate constitutional appeal.
The Supreme Court's third division upheld the appellate court's seven-year sentence on July 9. Immediately after the ruling, Yoon's team expressed regret, stating that the Supreme Court did not adequately address the legal errors in the appellate decision and indicated they would consider filing a constitutional appeal. Yoon was also reportedly in favor of pursuing an appeal initially.
However, after internal discussions among his legal team, they concluded that it would be best not to file an appeal. Yoon is said to have communicated his preference against pursuing the appeal to his lawyers.
Legal analysts suggest that considering the nature of the case and the current constitutional appeal system, the Constitutional Court is unlikely to overturn the Supreme Court's ruling. There are also concerns that pursuing an appeal could be perceived as a refusal to accept the judiciary's final decision.
This case marks the first instance in which the Supreme Court has confirmed a ruling related to criminal charges against Yoon in connection with the declaration of a state of emergency on December 3, 2024.
Yoon was charged with obstructing the exercise of deliberative rights of other cabinet members by convening only select ministers before the emergency declaration and with systematically preventing the execution of arrest and search warrants by mobilizing the Presidential Security Service last January.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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