Final Insurrection Hearing Set for Ex-President Yoon, Verdict Expected Early February
Updated (2 articles)
Final hearing scheduled for Friday, verdict projected for early February The Seoul Central District Court will hold closing arguments and issue a sentencing recommendation for former president Yoon Suk‑yeol on Friday, with a final verdict anticipated in the first week of February [1][2]. This session also concludes the merged trials of former defense minister Kim Yong‑hyun, former police chief Cho Ji‑ho, and five additional defendants linked to the December 2024 martial‑law attempt [1][2]. The court’s recommendation will precede the final judgment, which could be delivered shortly after the hearing [1].
Co‑defendants include former defense minister and police chief Alongside Yoon, the trial encompasses ex‑defense minister Kim Yong‑hyun and ex‑National Police Agency chief Cho Ji‑ho, who prosecutors allege coordinated troops and police to seal off the National Assembly [1][2]. Five other individuals face the same charges for assisting in the illegal declaration of martial law and the attempted arrest of political leaders [1][2]. Cho Ji‑ho’s final arguments may be delayed until Jan 22 due to his blood‑cancer treatment, potentially extending the hearing into the night [2].
Yoon accused of leading illegal martial law and constitutional subversion Prosecutors charge Yoon with conspiring to stage a riot and illegally declare martial law without war or national emergency, thereby subverting the Constitution [1][2]. The alleged plan involved mobilizing military and police forces to block the National Assembly and detain the Assembly speaker and opposition party heads [1][2]. This conduct mirrors historic coup attempts, drawing parallels to the 1979 coup trials of Chun Doo‑hwan and Roh Tae‑woo handled by the same court [1].
Potential punishments range from death penalty to life imprisonment Special counsel Cho Eun‑suk’s team is expected to request one of three penalties for Yoon as the ringleader: the death penalty, life imprisonment, or life imprisonment without forced labor [1][2]. Although South Korea has not carried out an execution since 1997, Amnesty International notes the country remains a de‑facto abolitionist, adding international scrutiny to any capital‑punishment consideration [1]. The court’s sentencing recommendation will shape the final decision in early February [1][2].
Sources
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1.
Yonhap: Final hearing set in insurrection trial against ex-president Yoon Suk Yeol – Details the Friday hearing, sentencing recommendation, co‑defendants, and possible death‑penalty options, emphasizing the historic context of the court’s previous coup‑related cases .
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2.
Yonhap: Ex-President Yoon insurrection trial to conclude this week – Highlights the week‑long final hearings, the inclusion of former defense minister and police chief, potential postponement of Cho Ji‑ho’s arguments due to illness, and the expected early‑February sentencing .
Timeline
Dec 2024 – Yoon Suk Yeol, then president, allegedly orders an illegal declaration of martial law, mobilizes troops and police to seal the National Assembly and arrest opposition leaders, actions that later form the basis of the insurrection charges against him and co‑defendants [2].
Jan 2025 – Yoon becomes the first sitting South Korean president ever detained with physical custody after a court indicts him for the December 2024 martial‑law plot, marking an unprecedented legal milestone [1].
Mar 2025 – A Seoul court issues an order canceling Yoon’s arrest, and he is released pending appeal, though the investigation continues [1].
Jul 2025 – Prosecutors re‑arrest Yoon on additional charges related to the same martial‑law scheme, reinforcing the government’s resolve to pursue the case through the courts [1].
1996 – The Seoul Central District Court issues sentencing recommendations in the trials of former leaders Chun Doo‑hwan and Roh Tae‑woo for the 1979 coup that installed Chun, establishing a precedent for prosecuting leaders who subvert constitutional order [1].
1997 – South Korea carries out its last execution, after which the country is regarded as a de facto abolitionist of the death penalty, a fact that shapes public and international expectations for Yoon’s possible punishment [1].
Jan 4‑8, 2026 – The Seoul Central District Court conducts four hearings to conclude the merged insurrection trial of Yoon, former Defense Minister Kim Yong‑hyun, former NPA chief Cho Ji‑ho and five others, with final arguments expected to run late into the night; Cho’s speech may be delayed because of his blood‑cancer treatment [2].
Jan 9, 2026 – The court holds the final insurrection hearing for Yoon, hearing closing arguments and a sentencing recommendation that could include death, life imprisonment or life without forced labor, while also hearing the cases of the co‑defendants who helped stage the martial‑law attempt [1].
Jan 22, 2026 – Cho Ji‑ho’s final arguments are slated to be postponed to this date due to his blood‑cancer condition, potentially extending the trial’s schedule [2].
Early Feb 2026 – The court is expected to deliver its verdict and sentencing for Yoon and the co‑defendants, with special counsel Cho Eun‑suk’s team likely seeking the harshest penalties, a decision that will be watched against the backdrop of South Korea’s long‑standing moratorium on executions [1][2].