The court issued a life sentence to former President Yoon Seok-yeol for insurrection but neglected the suffering of the citizens who were victims and prevented the insurrection, leading to criticism of a lack of historical awareness in the ruling.
In a significant ruling, the Seoul Central District Court sentenced former President Yoon Seok-yeol to life imprisonment due to charges related to insurrection leadership. Chief Judge Ji Gwi-yeon noted in the decision that many military and police officials were wronged by the incident, emphasizing the pain endured by those who could have led normal lives as public officials. Critics argue that this perspective shifted the focus away from the citizens, the actual victims of the December 3rd insurrection, to a consideration of the defendants’ circumstances and family suffering, reflecting a historical blindness in acknowledging who truly suffered.
Judge Ji emphasized the widespread repercussions of the insurrection, stating that a vast number of affected individuals faced extensive investigations and trials, which he deemed an unimaginable societal cost. Despite this acknowledgment, he did not mention the citizens who endured significant distress and chaos as a result of the insurrection. The ruling highlighted how the core values of democracy had been fundamentally undermined, the political standing and credibility of South Korea diminished on the international stage, and the political neutrality of the military and police compromised, exposing the fractures within society.
The judgment contrasts starkly with a previous sentencing for former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who received a 23-year prison term for insurrection-related duties. Judge Lee Jin-kwan stressed the risk of reverting to a dark past where fundamental rights and democratic principles of the people could be violated. This discrepancy in the treatment of defendants in similar cases raises questions about judicial consistency and the recognition of citizen welfare in legal proceedings.
