With regard to the "Dec. 3 martial law" situation, former President Yoon Suk-yeol, who was indicted on charges of being the leader of insurrection, was sentenced to life imprisonment in the first trial on the 19th, prompting the defense team to say, "Was this trial done for this, it was nothing but a mere show."
The former president's defense team said in a statement released immediately after the sentencing that it was "a formality for a predetermined conclusion."
The defense team said it was "a devastating feeling that we cannot utter even the minimum words that we respect the judiciary's decision," adding, "We hoped that justice, which can never be bent even in a frenzied era stained with lies and agitation, would be established, but our judiciary also knelt before an agitated public opinion and the political power seeking to purge its rivals."
The defense team also said, "Over the past year or so of trial and the examination of witnesses, the substance of the case was revealed," adding, "It was objectively established that the president did not direct that the National Assembly vote be obstructed, and even though it was the president's decision to set Korea right in a time of crisis, the court ignored it."
It continued, "The very initiation of the investigation was unlawful, and the court also turned a blind eye to the flawed investigation and indictment by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), which lacks investigative authority," adding, "If there was such a thorough intent to shun the truth, why hold a trial at all?"
The defense team argued, "The judiciary, which has halted President Lee Jae-myung's trial and handed down not-guilty verdicts in trials of prominent Democratic Party politicians on the grounds that the evidence was illegally collected, was overly mindful not only of procedural illegality but also of the merits in judging former President Yoon Suk-yeol," adding, "It is a tilted scale and nothing but inconsistent standards."
It added, "For a moment they may deceive the people and draw cheers with a square's trial," adding, "But in the court of history, the truth will surely be revealed someday. We will never bow to distortion and lies and will fight to the end."
Meanwhile, the special counsel for insurrection said of the sentencing result, "It was a meaningful ruling," but added, "There is considerable regret regarding the findings of fact and the sentencing." On whether to appeal, the office said only, "We will distribute materials." At the sentencing hearing on the 13th of last month, the special counsel for insurrection sought the maximum sentence allowed by law, the death penalty, for the former president.