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

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

The team of Cho Eun-suk, an independent counsel who led investigations into Yoon's insurrection and other charges, demanded a 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.

Yoon declared emergency martial law on the night of December 3, 2024, but the National Assembly revoked it hours later.

The constitutional court upheld a motion to impeach Yoon in April 2025, officially removing him from office.

He was indicted under detention in January 2025 as a suspected ringleader of the insurrection, becoming South Korea's first sitting president to be arrested and indicted.

Yoon is currently involved in eight criminal cases – this case being one of those related to insurrection. Some of the cases have already been adjudicated, with more trials pending.

(With input from Xinhua)