The sentencing hearing for former President Yoon Suk-yeol, indicted as the ringleader of insurrection in connection with the Dec. 3 martial law, will be held on the 13th.
Earlier, Yoon's side said when the court allocates time for the examination of documentary evidence, it "could take six to eight hours." With the special counsel for insurrection set to deliver a closing opinion and sentencing recommendation, and with the eight defendants scheduled to give their final statements, attention is on whether the hearing will again run late into the night.
The Criminal Agreement Division 25 of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Jee Kui-youn) initially planned to wrap up the sentencing procedures in one sitting on the 9th, but it failed to conclude arguments as the documentary evidence examination for former Minister of the Ministry of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun took a long time.
The former Minister's side continued to spar during the evidence examination, arguing that the special counsel's indictment was "based on crude and shabby imagination." Judge Jee also told the defense team, "The difference between a pro and an amateur is that a pro doesn't whine."
Judge Jee also showed an intention to conclude, saying, "Since we are gathered, it's right to finish," but the hearing that began at 9:20 a.m. on the 9th ended unfinished around 12:10 a.m. on the 10th. Yoon's side said on the night of the 9th, "The hearing is continuing when we haven't even had dinner," and argued, "The defendants are extremely exhausted physically."
With the consent of all defense counsel, the court proceeded with the evidence examination and closing arguments only for the other defendants excluding the former president, and pushed Yoon's closing argument and the special counsel's sentencing recommendation and final statements to that day.
In setting an additional date, the court said, "We will finish on the 13th no matter what. There is no additional option." It added, "For the final arguments, we intend to hear much from the defendants themselves, so we must finish by any means." As the court has declared it will complete all procedures on the 13th, if arguments run long, it is considered possible the court will manage the proceedings through litigation control.
At the sentencing hearing that day, Yoon's side's documentary evidence examination and the defense's closing arguments will proceed first, followed by the special counsel for insurrection presenting a final opinion and seeking a sentence. After that, eight defendants, including Yoon, will give their final statements in sequence. As the statutory punishment for the charge of being an insurrection ringleader is death, life imprisonment, or life confinement, attention is also on what sentence the special counsel will seek.
On the 26th of last month, at the sentencing hearing in the case of obstruction of arrest, the former president spoke for about an hour in a final statement. There were also reports that for the hearing on the 9th, he prepared a manuscript amounting to 40 pages of A4 paper. Accordingly, a late-night hearing could be repeated as in the previous session.