Prosecutors have requested severe sentences for military leaders charged with participating in the emergency martial law declared by former President Yoon Suk Yeol on December 3.
The Special Investigation Team for Insurrection, led by Special Prosecutor Cho Eun-seok, asked the Seoul Central District Court's 26th Criminal Division, presided over by Judge Lee Hyun-kyung, to impose 30-year prison terms on former Army Counterintelligence Command Chief Yeon Hyung and former Capital Defense Command Chief Lee Jin-woo.
Former Army Chief of Staff Park An-soo, who was the martial law commander at the time, faces a 25-year sentence, while former Army Special Warfare Command Chief Kwak Jong-geun and former Military Intelligence Command Chief Moon Sang-ho are each facing 20 years in prison.
In their closing arguments, prosecutors emphasized that the defendants' actions disregarded constitutional procedures and aimed to incapacitate the functions of state institutions, including the National Assembly, through violent means. They stated, "This fundamentally undermined the core values of democracy," asserting that holding them accountable is a minimal measure for upholding constitutional order and ensuring trust and justice in the criminal justice process.
The prosecutors particularly criticized the involvement of high-ranking officers representing the South Korean military in the emergency martial law, noting that these individuals were well aware of the consequences such actions would have on the nation, the military, and the public. They stated, "They left a significant scar on the mission and pride of the Republic of Korea's armed forces by involving the military in insurrection."
The prosecution believes that Yeon, Lee, Kwak, and Moon actively participated in the planning and preparation for the emergency martial law for an extended period.
Prosecutors described Yeon as having played a crucial role, stating, "He moved in tandem with his high school seniors Yoon Suk Yeol and Kim Yong-hyun from the conspiracy to execution stages, forming a united front with fellow Army Academy alumni Lee Jin-woo and Kwak Jong-geun, effectively serving as the brain behind the insurrection preparations."
Regarding Lee, they noted, "When many citizens gathered at the National Assembly, making it difficult to contain the situation, he actively commanded military police to issue arrest orders or to forcibly remove lawmakers from the assembly."
The afternoon session of the trial is expected to include the defendants' final arguments and statements.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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