Supreme Court Upholds Conviction of Former President Yoon for Obstructing Arrest Warrant

Former South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has been handed his first confirmed prison sentence for obstructing the execution of an arrest warrant by the anti-corruption agency. The Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld a seven-year prison sentence, marking the first time a court has legally recognized Yoon's criminal responsibility related to the martial law declaration.

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The main point of contention was whether the anti-corruption agency's investigation process was lawful.

The core issue in the case was whether the anti-corruption agency had the legal authority to investigate Yoon for rebellion. Yoon's defense argued that the investigation itself was unlawful, thus making his obstruction of it not a crime. However, the Supreme Court's Third Division ruled that the investigation into rebellion charges falls under the agency's purview for "crimes directly related" to its mandate. This decision validates the agency's actions and confirms that obstructing its investigation constituted unlawful interference with official duties.

During the January arrest warrant execution, presidential security officials formed human barriers and physically confronted investigators. The Seoul Central District Court previously sentenced former Presidential Security Service chief Park Jong-joon to four years in prison, former deputy chief Kim Seong-hoon to five years, and former security division head Lee Gwang-woo to two years and six months, all receiving immediate detention. Former family division chief Kim Sin received a one-year sentence suspended for two years. The court deemed their actions, which used the state agency's structure to block the warrant execution for an extended period, as serious offenses.

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The rebellion investigation falls under the category of 'crimes directly related' to the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission Act.

Beyond the obstruction case, Yoon is currently involved in seven other criminal trials. These include charges related to leading the rebellion, for which he received a life sentence in the first trial and is currently appealing. Another case concerning general treason, for which he was sentenced to 30 years in the first trial, has its first appellate hearing on December 15. Sentencing for a case involving alleged false public statements during the 20th presidential election is scheduled for December 27. Meanwhile, a ruling on a case concerning the alleged free reception of public opinion poll results is expected on December 13.

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The defendants' actions constituted a serious crime, using the organizational structure and command system of the Presidential Security Service to block the warrant execution for a long time.