DP Slams Life Sentence for Insurrection Leader Yoon Suk Yeol in First Trial as an "Insufficient Ruling" (Comprehensive)

Pursuing Follow-Up Tasks Such as Judicial Reform and a Law Banning Pardons
"Urging Prudence in Words and Actions" in Response to "Welcoming Messages from Some Ruling Party Figures"

On the 19th, the Democratic Party of Korea unanimously condemned former President Yoon Suk Yeol being sentenced to life imprisonment in the first trial on charges of leading an insurrection, declaring, "By sentencing the ringleader of an insurrection that shook the very foundations of the nation to life imprisonment instead of the death penalty, Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae's judiciary has shaken judicial justice itself."

Democratic Party leader Jung Cheongrae convened a Supreme Council meeting immediately after the verdict on former President Yoon was delivered that afternoon, saying, "Today's sentence is a ruling that deliberately turns away from the Revolution of Light that defended democracy with bare hands against the December 3 Emergency Martial Law."

Yonhap News Agency

Jung said, "The misguided practice of the judiciary, which showed leniency to Chun Doo-hwan, the ringleader of the insurrection, has returned today as a tragedy," adding, "Since the appeals court and the Supreme Court still remain, we will not let down our guard." He continued, "Through the second comprehensive special counsel investigation, the Democratic Party will uncover the truth of the 'Noh Sangwon Notebook' and do everything in its power to ensure that the ringleader of the insurrection receives the maximum penalty under the law."

Most Democratic Party lawmakers posted messages on social media (SNS) criticizing the judiciary's decision. Park Suhyeon, the party's chief spokesperson, said, "This is a bench that has left in the history of the Republic of Korea's judiciary an outrageous ruling that 'even an insurrection ringleader can have his sentence reduced if he is elderly and has no prior criminal record,'" adding, "It will not be able to escape the condemnation of the people."

Democratic Party lawmaker Park Jumin wrote, "Life imprisonment: the statutory minimum sentence for the crime of being an insurrection ringleader," and questioned, "Given that the gravity of the case lies in being a crime that shook the constitutional order to its roots, does imposing the statutory minimum truly conform to the principles of sentencing and the justice of punishment?"

Democratic Party lawmaker Park Honggeun said, "The will of the people that a stern responsibility must be imposed for insurrection has not been sufficiently reflected. It is deeply regrettable that this is the reality of today's judiciary." He added, "From the appeals stage, the case will be heard by a panel specializing in insurrection cases. I hope a far more stringent judgment will be rendered that accords with the duty to defend the Constitution and the demands of our time."

There were also calls to focus on follow-up tasks such as judicial reform. Democratic Party lawmaker Moon Jinseok wrote, "This is why we doubted the Ji Guyoun bench, and this is why a panel specializing in insurrection cases was needed," adding, "Judicial justice died today. Judicial reform is urgent."

Kim Yongmin, a Democratic Party lawmaker who serves as the ruling party secretary on the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee, said, "The National Assembly will now move immediately to pass a law prohibiting pardons."

Some Democratic Party lawmakers, however, welcomed the life sentence as a "stern punishment." Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Hyunjeong said, "Although it fell short of the death sentence sought by prosecutors, this is a stern punishment handed down by the rule of law in the Republic of Korea to a man who privatized power and sought to destroy the constitutional order," adding, "Justice may at times appear to come slowly, but today we once again witnessed the fact that it ultimately flows in the right direction."

Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Haesik stated, "Life imprisonment for Yoon Suk Yeol, 30 years in prison for Kim Yonghyun," adding, "Both politics and verdicts are rendered by the people."

Jung Wono, head of Seongdong District and a prospective candidate for Seoul mayor, wrote, "The principles of the Constitution and the rule of law have once again been affirmed," and, "Today's first-instance ruling is a result in which the judicial process has heeded the will of the citizens," but soon deleted the post. In response, Representative Park Honggeun, a preliminary candidate for Seoul mayor, wrote, "This is a perception far removed from the will of the citizens of Seoul who stood at the vanguard to stop the insurrection," and urged, "I ask for more prudent words and actions." Representative Park Jumin also fired a warning shot, saying, "I cannot agree with District Head Jung's view."

Meanwhile, Cho Kuk, leader of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party, said, "After a long period of patience by the people, judgment has finally been passed on Yoon Suk Yeol," adding, "We now need to revise the Amnesty Act to prohibit pardons for insurrectionists, or at least to allow them only when approved by the National Assembly. And we need a resolute judgment against the political forces that still defend Yoon Suk Yeol and the insurrection."

Earlier that day, the 25th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (presiding judge Ji Guyoun) sentenced former President Yoon to life imprisonment in the first-instance sentencing hearing on charges including leading an insurrection. Former Defense Minister Kim Yonghyun was sentenced to 30 years in prison, former Defense Intelligence Command chief Noh Sangwon to 18 years, and former National Police Agency Commissioner General Cho Jiho to 12 years, among other sentences.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.