Former President Yoon Suk Yeol used his final appellate statement to defend the December 2024 martial law declaration as a constitutional exercise of presidential authority, again denying that his actions amounted to insurrection. He read from a 26-page manuscript for about 80 minutes and asked the court to acquit him.
Yoon argued that the declaration was intended to confront the oppositionโs political conduct rather than undermine the constitutional order. He denied trying to use military and police forces to prevent the National Assembly from voting to lift martial law, saying restrictions on access to the legislature resulted from police decisions.
- Final statement
- About 80 minutes from a 26-page manuscript
- Prosecution request
- Death penalty
- First trial sentence
- Life imprisonment
- Appellate ruling
- Jan. 26, 2027 at 2:30 p.m.
He also challenged testimony that he had ordered troops to remove lawmakers from the chamber. Yoon contended that references to removing โagentsโ or โpersonnelโ had been recast as an instruction targeting legislators. On reported attempts by the Defense Counterintelligence Command to detain political figures, he argued that the personal decisions of subordinates should be distinguished from his own responsibility.
Yoon disputes testimony and command responsibility
The special counsel has sought the death penalty, describing Yoonโs conduct as an act of rebellion at the highest level. The request matches the sentence prosecutors sought at the first trial, which instead imposed life imprisonment. Former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who is being tried alongside Yoon and also denies the insurrection charge, received a 30-year prison term at the first trial.
The Seoul High Court is scheduled to deliver its appellate ruling at 2:30 p.m. on Jan. 26, 2027. The judgment will address Yoonโs conviction for leading an insurrection and the related abuse-of-authority allegation, including his challenges to the trial courtโs interpretation of events at the National Assembly.