Special Counsel Demands 10-Year Sentence for Former President Yoon Suk Yeol

A decade behind bars for a failed martial law bid. On December 26, 2025, special counsel Cho Eun-suk's team requested a 10-year prison term for former President Yoon Suk Yeol over obstruction of justice and other charges. According to Yonhap News, this marks the first sentencing recommendation among the four ongoing trials Yoon faces regarding his botched martial law declaration last year.

Privatizing State Power for Criminal Immunity

The prosecution didn't hold back, labeling Yoon's actions a "grave crime" that involved privatizing state institutions to conceal his own criminal acts. The special counsel broke down the demand into three segments: 5 years for obstructing his own detention, 3 years for violating Cabinet rights and spreading falsehoods, and 2 years for falsifying official documents. Prosecutors argued that instead of showing regret, Yoon has consistently tried to justify his unconstitutional actions throughout the trial.

A Defiant Defense: Blaming the Opposition

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Yoon remains unrepentant. In his final statement, he denied all charges, asserting that "nothing can be too much" when it comes to presidential security. He shifted the blame to the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), claiming their "unconstitutional dictatorship" in parliament paralyzed the government. Yoon maintained that the martial law was a necessary move to wake up the public to a national emergency triggered by the opposition.

The Road to January’s Verdict

The Seoul Central District Court announced it will deliver its first verdict on January 16, 2026, just two days before Yoon's current arrest term expires. While his lawyers tried to delay the ruling until the separate insurrection trial concludes, the judge dismissed the request. The insurrection trial, which carries even heavier stakes, is expected to wrap up in early January, with a verdict potentially arriving in February.