[Anchor]

The special counsel has demanded the death penalty for former President Yoon Seok-youl, who faces charges of being the ringleader of an insurrection, during the appellate trial. The special counsel stated that the December 3 insurrection was an act of treason of the highest level that betrayed the public's trust, adding that the life sentence handed down in the first trial was overly lenient.

Reporter Park Yerim.

[Reporter]

[Seo Seong-kwang / Prosecutor, Special Counsel for Insurrection: We ask that the lower court's ruling regarding the defendant Yoon Seok-youl be overturned and that the death penalty be sentenced.]

The special counsel team for the insurrection demanded the death penalty once again in the appeals court for former President Yoon Seok-youl, who is charged as the ringleader of the insurrection.

While former President Yoon had scoffed when the death penalty was demanded during the first trial, this time he stared straight ahead without any change in expression.

The special counsel team defined the December 3 insurrection as a "palace coup to monopolize power," emphasizing that it was "an act of treason of the highest level that betrayed the public's trust."

They argued that the life imprisonment sentenced by the first-instance court was excessively light.

[Lee Chan-gyu / Prosecutor, Special Counsel for Insurrection: The lower court failed to fully reveal the entire scope of the insurrection and hold [him] accountable to a degree commensurate with the crime.]

In particular, regarding the lower court's judgment that "spontaneous martial law" constituted a mitigating sentencing factor for former President Yoon, the prosecution pointed out that even based on the facts recognized in the first trial, it was an insurrection prepared over eight months.

They added that the fact that the military and police restrained their use of physical force should not be considered a favorable factor for former President Yoon.

The special counsel team demanded life imprisonment for former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who was sentenced to 30 years in prison in the first trial on charges including engaging in important duties of an insurrection.

Former President Yoon's legal team held a press conference, arguing that the special counsel's sentencing demand exposed the prosecution as a political indictment driven by one-sided claims.

[Bae Eui-cheol / Defense Counsel for Former President Yoon Seok-youl: This sentencing demand exposed the true nature of a political special counsel that sold its conscience to political power and made arguments strictly as ordered.]

The court plans to listen to former President Yoon's final statement on November 5 and set the date for the sentencing ruling.

(Photo courtesy of Yonhap News)
(Video reporting: Yang Hyun-chul | Video editing: Yu Mira)