Statement Before Yoon’s First Trial Verdict,
Minister of Justice Jeong Seong-ho. 2026.1.12 ⓒ News1 Reporter Shin Woong-soo,
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, ‘(Seoul=News1) Reporter Kim Jong-hoon = On the 19th, Minister of Justice Jeong Seong-ho stated ahead of the first trial verdict regarding former President Yoon Seok-yeol’s charges of being the leader of a rebellion, “We expect a solemn and appropriate ruling that reflects the weight of history.”‘,
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, ‘Minister Jeong expressed via his social media service (SNS) in the morning, “Today should be a day when the judiciary of the Republic of Korea punishes those who ultimately do not reflect, in the name of the constitution and the rule of law, and shows a determination not to repeat history’s constitutional infringements.”‘,
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, ‘He further emphasized, “Only decisive punishment can prevent the emergence of another Chun Doo-hwan and Yoon Seok-yeol in our constitutional history and break the chains of rebellion.”‘,
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, ‘At 3 PM on the same day, the 25th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Ji Gui-yeon) will hold a sentencing hearing for former President Yoon, accused of being the leader of a rebellion, and Kim Yong-hyun, former Minister of National Defense, among others, in courtroom 417.’,
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, ‘The legal penalties for the crime of being a leader of a rebellion include death, life imprisonment, or life imprisonment without parole. The special prosecutor team (Special Prosecutor Cho Eun-seok) has sought the death penalty, the maximum legal sentence, for former President Yoon.’,
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, ‘The only other former president who has faced the same charge and was recommended for the death penalty was former President Chun Doo-hwan.’,
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, ‘The prosecution sought the death penalty for former President Chun, who was charged in 1996 in connection with the 12/12 military coup and the Gwangju Democratization Movement for rebellion and being the leader of a rebellion (then named insurrection leader).’,
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, ‘The first trial court at that time sentenced former President Chun to death, but the sentence was reduced to life imprisonment in the second trial. The Supreme Court later upheld the lower court’s decision, sparing former President Chun from execution.’,
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Former President Yoon Seok-yeol. (Provided by Seoul Central District Court, resale and DB prohibited) 2025.12.26 ⓒ News1,