S. Korea's special counsel seeks 10-year sentence for ex-president Yoon

South Korea's special counsel on Monday sought a 10-year prison sentence in the appeals court for former President Yoon Suk-yeol on arrest obstruction charges.



The team of Cho Eun-suk, an independent counsel who led investigations into Yoon's insurrection and other charges, demanded the 10-year prison term in appeal after requesting the same sentence in the first instance.



The Seoul Central District Court sentenced Yoon to five years in prison in January, half of the requested term.



Yoon was charged with abusing the presidential security service to hinder the anti-corruption agency from executing its arrest warrant in January 2025.



The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) was once thwarted in its attempt to arrest Yoon as the presidential security service formed human shields and bus blockades to prevent investigators from entering the presidential residence.



The impeached South Korean leader was sentenced to life in prison in February on charges of insurrection stemming from his martial law declaration.