Appeals Trial for Former President Yoon Suk Yeol on Insurrection Mastermind Charges Nears Conclusion (November 5, 2026)

[Anchor]

The sentencing hearing for former President Yoon Suk Yeol on charges of being the mastermind of an insurrection is underway today. Let us connect with our reporter at the court.

Reporter Bae Seong-jae, please give us an update on the proceedings so far.

[Reporter]

The Seoul High Court has been holding the final sentencing hearing for former President Yoon and former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, among others, on insurrection charges since 10 a.m. today.

Until 4 p.m., the defense counsel for former President Yoon delivered their closing arguments. Following a recess, the defendants began their final statements starting at 4:35 p.m. with former Defense Intelligence Command Chief Noh Sang-won, who is standing trial alongside former President Yoon.

Former President Yoon is scheduled to deliver his final statement last among the eight defendants.

Once former President Yoon's final statement concludes, the court is expected to wrap up today's session and announce the sentencing date.

This marks the conclusion of the appeals trial in half a year since the first hearing began on May 14.

Previously on October 29, the special counsel team on insurrection demanded the death penalty for former President Yoon, who faces charges of being an insurrection mastermind.

Characterizing the December 3 insurrection as the highest level of treason, the special counsel team argued that the life sentence handed down by the court of first instance was too lenient.

[Seo Seong-gwang / Prosecutor, Special Counsel for Insurrection: We ask that you overturn the part of the original ruling regarding defendant Yoon Suk Yeol and sentence him to death.]

In addition, the team demanded a life sentence for former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun and 30 years in prison for former Defense Intelligence Command Chief Noh Sang-won.

On the other hand, former President Yoon's side has maintained his innocence, arguing that as head of state, the president made a desperate choice to alert the public to a ruinous national situation.

In February of this year, the first-instance court found former President Yoon guilty of instigating a riot with the intent to subvert the Constitution—namely, the charge of being an insurrection mastermind—and sentenced him to life imprisonment.

(Video reporting: Joo Yong-jin | Video editing: Choi Jin-hwa)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.