Former President Yoon Suk Yeol sits in the defendant's seat at Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, during a first-instance sentencing hearing in January on charges including obstruction of special official duties, aiding a fugitive and abuse of authority. [Seoul Central District Court]
Former President Yoon Suk Yeol sits in the defendant's seat at Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, during a first-instance sentencing hearing in January on charges including obstruction of special official duties, aiding a fugitive and abuse of authority. [Seoul Central District Court]

The special prosecutor's team investigating the insurrection case has again asked the court to sentence former President Yoon Suk Yeol to death, this time at the appellate level.

The insurrection special prosecutor's team sought the death penalty Thursday at Seoul High Court during the closing arguments of Yoon's second-instance trial on charges including leading an insurrection. The panel hearing the case is the court's Criminal Division 12-1, presided over by judges Lee Seung-cheol, Jo Jin-gu and Kim Min-a. The team had also sought the death penalty at the first-instance trial.

In February, Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Division 25, then presided over by Judge Ji Gwi-yeon, sentenced Yoon to life in prison. The first-instance court found Yoon guilty of the crime of insurrection, ruling that both key elements — intent to undermine the constitutional order and the commission of an armed uprising — had been established. The court rejected Yoon's argument that the martial law declaration had been a cautionary or appeal-style measure.


yg@heraldcorp.com