Yang Sung‑tae Files Appeal Against Six‑Month Suspended Sentence After Historic Conviction
Updated (3 articles)
Appeal Submitted on February 2, 2026 Former Supreme Court chief justice Yang Sung‑tae lodged an appeal to the Seoul High Court a day after the court’s ruling, seeking reversal of the six‑month prison term suspended for one year [1]. The filing occurred on Monday, following the sentencing hearing held on January 30, 2026. Yang’s legal team announced the appeal immediately, arguing the verdict breaches established legal standards for power‑abuse prosecutions [1].
Six‑Month Suspended Term Marks First Conviction of a Former Chief Justice The Seoul High Court sentenced Yang to a six‑month term, suspended for a year, overturning a lower‑court acquittal of all 47 charges [2][3]. This decision represents the inaugural criminal conviction of a former South Korean Supreme Court chief justice. The sentence allows Yang to avoid incarceration unless he violates the suspension conditions within the year.
Charges Center on Trial Bargaining with the Park Administration Prosecutors allege Yang leveraged judicial decisions between 2011 and 2017 to benefit President Park Geun‑hye’s government, intervening in a forced‑labor compensation case and an election‑interference case [1][2]. Additional accusations include compiling a judges’ blacklist, approving anti‑constitutional proposals, and maintaining a slush fund [2]. The court found sufficient evidence for two of the 47 counts, deeming the remaining charges either unsupported or not directly attributable to Yang [2].
Co‑Defendant Outcomes and Prosecutorial Demands Former Justice Park Byong‑dae received an identical six‑month suspended sentence, while former Justice Ko Young‑han was fully acquitted [2][3]. Prosecutors had originally sought a seven‑year prison term for Yang, reflecting the seriousness of the alleged abuse [3]. Yang’s attorneys reiterated their intent to appeal promptly, indicating the case will proceed to a higher judicial review [2].
Historical Context of Arrest and Detention Yang was arrested in February 2019, detained for 179 days, and released on bail in July 2019, marking the first time a South Korean chief justice faced criminal charges [2]. The conviction underscores intensified scrutiny of judicial conduct and may shape future accountability mechanisms for senior judges [1].
Sources
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1.
Yonhap: Former Supreme Court Chief Justice Yang Appeals Suspended Sentence: reports Yang’s February 2 appeal against the six‑month suspended term, noting the appeal’s timing and his team’s legal arguments .
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2.
Yonhap: Former South Korean Supreme Court Chief Justice Sentenced to Suspended Prison Term for Power Abuse: details the six‑month suspended sentence, conviction on two of 47 charges, co‑defendant outcomes, and the prosecutors’ seven‑year request .
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3.
Yonhap: Former Supreme Court Chief Justice Yang Sentenced to Suspended Prison Term: outlines the January 30 sentencing, reversal of a prior acquittal, and prosecutors’ claim that Yang used trials to push court‑reform agendas .
Timeline
2011–2017 – Yang Sung‑tae serves as chief justice of South Korea’s Supreme Court, overseeing the judiciary during President Park Geun‑hye’s administration, a period later cited as the window for alleged trial‑bargaining and misuse of judicial power [1].
Feb 2019 – Jul 2019 – Yang is arrested in February 2019 on power‑abuse charges, detained for 179 days, and released on bail in July 2019, marking the first time a South Korean chief justice faces criminal detention [3].
Jan 30, 2026 – The Seoul High Court overturns a lower‑court acquittal and sentences Yang to six months in prison, suspended for one year, for wrongful interference in trials, establishing the first criminal conviction of a former Supreme Court chief justice [2][3].
Jan 30, 2026 – The court also hands a six‑month suspended sentence to former Justice Park Byong‑dae and upholds the acquittal of former Justice Ko Young‑han, reflecting mixed outcomes for co‑defendants in the same power‑abuse case [3].
Jan 30, 2026 – Prosecutors had sought a seven‑year prison term for Yang, underscoring the gravity of the alleged abuse, but the appellate court imposes a far shorter suspended sentence, highlighting divergent assessments of the case’s severity [2].
Jan 30, 2026 – Yang’s legal team immediately announces an appeal, arguing that the verdict violates established legal principles for prosecuting power‑abuse offenses and sets a problematic precedent [1].
Feb 2, 2026 – Yang formally files an appeal against the suspended sentence, initiating a higher‑court review that is expected to proceed later in 2026 [1].