The independent counsel team investigating the death of a Marine has requested a 5-year prison sentence for former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who is on trial on charges of facilitating the overseas departure of former Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup.

During the sentencing hearing held today by the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 22 (Presiding Judge Cho Hyung-woo), the special counsel team made the sentencing recommendation on charges including aiding an offender to escape and abuse of authority.

The team also requested a 3-year prison term for former National Security Office Director Cho Tae-yong and former Justice Minister Park Sung-jae, who were indicted along with Yoon.

Additionally, the counsel asked the court to sentence former Presidential Secretary for Public Discipline Lee Si-won, former First Vice Foreign Minister Chang Ho-jin, and former Vice Justice Minister Shim Woo-jung to 2 years in prison.

The special counsel team pointed out, "The defendants turned a blind eye to the truth and remained silent. They conducted formal reviews and mechanically processed the lifting of the travel ban just to send Lee as ambassador," adding, "This was not a series of isolated, coincidental outcomes, but rather an organized act of concealing the truth."

Regarding former President Yoon in particular, the team stated, "Mobilizing state power for private and political purposes ahead of the general election went beyond merely obstructing criminal justice; it neutralized it, completely infringing upon the state's investigative authority."

The team continued, "It is obvious to common sense that appointing Lee as ambassador and helping him leave the country would inevitably disrupt the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials from conducting timely investigations."

Yoon was indicted on charges of ordering the appointment of former Minister Lee—a key suspect in allegations of external pressure regarding the investigation into the death of Marine Corporal Chae—as the ambassador to Australia in November 2023, four months after Corporal Chae's death, with the intent of helping him flee.

The sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 11.

(Photo: Yonhap News)