Former President Yoon Claims Martial Law Was Justified in Appeal Trial Final Statement... Ruling Set for January

[Anchor]

Former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in the first trial on charges of masterminding an insurrection, repeated his claim that the emergency martial law was justified during his final statement in the appellate trial. The court announced that it will deliver its ruling for the second trial on January 26 next year.

Reporter Bae Seong-jae has the details.

[Reporter]

Former President Yoon Suk Yeol took the stand yesterday (November 5) to deliver his final statement, speaking last among the eight defendants.

Wearing glasses, Yoon read from a 26-page prepared manuscript for one hour and 20 minutes.

Yoon argued that the December 3 emergency martial law was a legitimate exercise of presidential authority within the framework of the Constitution to rectify the overreach of the opposition party.

He also stated that he had never mobilized the military and police to block the National Assembly's resolution demanding the lifting of martial law.

He reiterated arguments that were rejected during the impeachment trial and the first trial for the insurrection mastermind charge.

He then requested an acquittal in accordance with the law and principles.

[Bae Bo-yun / Defense Counsel for Former President Yoon Suk Yeol: Regarding this (the authority to declare martial law), our precedents dictate that it is the president's inherent authority and independent judgment power....]

Former Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun and former Defense Intelligence Commander Noh Sang-won, who delivered their final statements earlier, also completely denied the insurrection charges.

During the hearing on October 29, the special counsel demanded the death penalty for Yoon in the appellate trial, just as in the first trial, stating that he had committed "the highest level of treason."

In February, the first-instance court sentenced Yoon to life imprisonment and former Minister Kim to 30 years in prison.

The court stated that it will deliver the appellate ruling on former President Yoon's charges, including masterminding an insurrection, at 2:30 PM on January 26 next year.

(Camera Reporter: Yang Hyun-chul, Video Editor: Lee So-young)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.