South Korea's prosecutors appeal against court ruling for ex-President Yoon for obstruction charges

ISTANBUL

South Korea’s special counsel team on Thursday appealed a court ruling that handed down ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol a five-year sentence for obstructing investigators from detaining him over charges linked to his failed martial law bid.

Last Friday, Yoon was sentenced to five years in prison on charges of obstructing investigators’ attempts to detain him last year, including by ordering the Presidential Security Service to block the execution of a detention warrant at the official presidential residence. Prosecutors had sought a 10-year prison sentence.

The ruling marked the first sentence among eight cases he is standing trial for, including charges that he led an insurrection through his December 2024 declaration of martial law.

The special counsel team, led by Cho Eun-suk, said it had filed an appeal challenging the court’s not-guilty verdicts on some charges, including allegations that Yoon ordered the distribution of false press statements, Seoul-based Yonhap News reported.

Yoon’s legal team also submitted an appeal on Monday, arguing that the court committed procedural errors and dismissed evidence requested by the defense without a proper assessment.

Special prosecutors investigating the martial law case have also sought the death penalty for Yoon on insurrection charges. A court is scheduled to rule on that case on Feb. 19.