First Sentencing Recommendation Nears for Yoon Suk Yeol in Martial Law Trials

The first domino is about to fall in the legal saga of a former president. South Korea's Yoon Suk Yeol is set to receive his first sentencing recommendation on Friday in one of several trials related to his imposition of martial law in December 2024. According to Yonhap News Agency, a special counsel team is expected to present its opinion, marking a critical juncture that could influence the trajectory of his other, more serious legal battles.

The Obstruction of Justice Charges

This trial is the first of four that the former president is facing. It centers on charges that he obstructed justice by blocking investigators from detaining him in January 2025, violated the rights of nine Cabinet members by excluding them from a key meeting, and illegally destroyed a revised martial law proclamation. The final hearing is scheduled to begin at 10:15 a.m. at the Seoul Central District Court, and will include testimony from former officials, final arguments from both the prosecution and defense, and a final statement from Yoon himself.

A Verdict Against the Clock

The court has indicated it will likely deliver a verdict on January 16, 2026—just two days before Yoon's current arrest warrant is set to expire on January 18. Yoon's lawyers argued for the verdict to be delayed until after the conclusion of his separate trial on insurrection charges, but the judge dismissed the request. The insurrection trial, which carries far graver implications, is expected to conclude in early January at the earliest, with a potential verdict around February.