Yoon Suk Yeol Faces Five-Year Sentence Request in Escape-Aid Trial

According to Lianhe Zaobao citing Yonhap, a Seoul Central District Court panel held the closing hearing on Friday, July 24, in the first trial of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who is accused of helping former Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup flee overseas. Prosecutors asked the court to sentence Yoon to five years in prison. They also sought three-year prison terms each for former National Security Office chief Cho Tae-yong and former Justice Minister Park Sung-jae, who were indicted alongside Yoon. The special counsel said Yoon used state power for private and political ends, obstructed criminal justice procedures, rendered justice ineffective and infringed on the state’s investigative authority. The case stems from the July 2023 death of Marine Corps Lance Corporal Cha, who died while taking part in flood relief work in North Gyeongsang Province. The special counsel said Yoon became angry on July 31 after receiving an initial finding from the Marine Corps investigation team that upper-level commanders should be held responsible. It said Lee and other Defense Ministry and presidential office officials abused their power to pressure investigators, stop them from transferring the case to police and order changes to related records. On November 19, 2023, Yoon nominated Lee as ambassador to Australia, which the special counsel said was intended to help him flee overseas.