South Korea’s Yoon could become ‘martyr’ if given death penalty: observers
While prosecutors have demanded death for the disgraced ex-president over his martial law debacle, a life imprisonment sentence is seen as more likely
The public gallery, packed with Yoon’s supporters, erupted into protests, forcing the presiding judge to repeatedly call for order at the final hearing on Tuesday, which stretched 17 hours and past midnight.
A three-judge panel is set to deliver its verdict and sentence on the 65-year-old on February 19, weighing the prosecution’s request and any mitigating factors.
Prosecutors also demanded life imprisonment for former defence minister Kim Yong-hyun and a 30-year prison term for retired army intelligence chief No Sang-won, accused of designing the martial law plan.
“This was a crime of insurrection aimed at neutralising constitutional state bodies to extend power through military and police forces,” the special counsel said.