Special prosecutor requests broadcast of ex-President Yoon's sentencing

South Korea's special prosecutor's team has asked the Supreme Court to broadcast the upcoming sentencing for former President Yoon Suk-yeol's obstruction of arrest case. This request, if granted, would mark the first time a lower court's sentencing is broadcast by the Supreme Court, which has previously only televised decisions from its full en banc court for major cases.

The sentencing is scheduled for July 9, with the Supreme Court's Third Division, presided over by Justice Lee Sook-yeon, handling the case. Yoon faces charges including obstruction of official duties and abuse of power. He was previously sentenced to seven years in prison in April by the Seoul High Court for allegedly preventing the execution of an arrest warrant issued by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials.

The special prosecutor law mandates the broadcasting of first-instance trials for cases under investigation. However, it also states that if the special prosecutor requests it for trials beyond the first instance, the presiding judge must grant permission unless there are special circumstances.

Yoon is also accused of infringing on the deliberation rights of cabinet members by convening a partial cabinet meeting for the declaration of emergency martial law and of creating and destroying the declaration document afterward. He is further accused of ordering the deletion of records related to military commanders involved in the emergency martial law.