The Democratic Party of Korea called the 5-year prison sentence handed down in the first trial to former President Yoon Suk-yeol on charges including obstructing the arrest by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) "an absurdly light sentence." In contrast, the People Power Party decided not to issue an official commentary since Yoon is no longer affiliated with the party.

Former President Yoon Suk-yeol sits in the defendant's seat as he appears for the first-trial sentencing hearing on charges including obstructing special official duties, aiding and abetting a suspect's escape, and abuse of power at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the 16th./Courtesy of Yonhap News

Park Soo-hyun, the Democratic Party chief spokesperson, held a briefing at the communication center on the afternoon of the 16th and said, "The 5-year prison sentence for the defendant Yoon Suk-yeol is an absurdly light sentence for the destruction of constitutional order," adding, "It falls far short of responding to the public's demand to overcome insurrection and realize justice."

Park went on, "Defendant Yoon Suk-yeol is an unprecedented criminal who flatly denied the constitutional order and trampled on the basic principles of a law-governed state," adding, "While the court itself acknowledged the gravity of the crime, it drastically reduced the sentence, a cowardly decision that betrayed the public's expectations for judicial justice."

In particular, Park said, "At the point where it said it determined the sentence considering that this was a 'first offense,' we cannot help but feel not only disbelief but anger," criticizing, "The light sentence the court handed to an unrepentant power holder has only become another spark of arrogance."

The People Power Party is not expected to issue an official position on the court's ruling on the former president Yoon. Previously, even when the special counsel for insurrection sought the death penalty for Yoon on charges of being the ringleader of insurrection, the People Power Party did not issue a commentary.

Park Seong-hun, the People Power Party chief spokesperson, told reporters at the National Assembly that day, "Former President Yoon is someone who has left the party, so the People Power Party has no particular position," adding, "We have no plans to issue a position regarding former President Yoon's trial going forward."

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