**[Anchor]**
Today, on the 19th, the court will hold the first sentencing trial for former President Yoon Seok-yeol’s rebellion leadership case.
It is the judiciary’s first decision about 443 days after the declaration of martial law.
Reporter Han Chae-hee is on-site at the court to provide more details.
**[Reporter]**
Yes.
Today at 3 PM, the first sentencing hearing for former President Yoon Seok-yeol’s rebellion leadership case will take place at the Seoul Central District Court.
This marks the first legal judgment on the peak of the issue 443 days after martial law was declared.
Courtroom 417, where the sentencing occurs, is the same place former President Chun Doo-hwan was sentenced to death on similar charges.
Today’s sentencing will be broadcasted live.
Presiding Judge Jigui-yeon is expected to first read out the charges and then explain the judgment on each case.
The judge will outline the reasons for sentencing, cite the favorable and unfavorable circumstances for the defendant, and finally read out the final verdict and sentence, which is expected to take about two hours due to the involvement of eight defendants.
There’s significant interest in whether the court will recognize the December 3rd martial law as rebellion and if recognized, whether the court will sentence the defendants to death as requested by the special prosecutor, or consider the fact that practical abolition of the death penalty is in place and instead sentence them to life imprisonment. If the death sentence is delivered, it would be the first since former President Chun Doo-hwan 30 years ago.
The court is also expected to determine if the emergency martial law was declared in accordance with the Constitution and the martial law statute, and whether the subsequent rebellion investigation by the Corruption Investigation Office was legal.
There is also interest in whether former President Yoon will attend.
While there were concerns that the sentencing might be delayed if former President Yoon and some defendants did not appear, Yoon’s legal team has affirmed his intention to attend.
**[Anchor]**
Could you tell us about the situation around the court?
Large protests are expected around the courthouse today, correct?
**[Reporter]**
Yes.
Protests and rallies are expected around the courthouse today, putting both the court and police on high alert.
The court has prohibited all public vehicles from entering the premises since the 13th.
Today, some entrances and exits, including the main gate and the north gate, are closed, security checks upon entry have been heightened, and anyone carrying rally paraphernalia is strictly denied entry.
There are concerns about clashes between opposing rallies, as one side advocates for Yoon’s innocence and the other for his conviction.
Some conservative groups and former Korean history lecturer Jeon Han-gil have announced a large-scale rally at Gyodae Station today with a participation of over 4,000 people, while opposing groups have also announced rallies with over 5,000 participants.
The police plan to erect barriers and deploy officers around the courthouse to prevent clashes between protesters.
This has been Han Chae-hee reporting from the Seoul Central District Court for Yonhap News TV.