The appeals court sentenced the former president to seven years in prison

Former South Korean President Jun Suk Jeol was sentenced on Wednesday by an appeals court in Seoul to seven years in prison for obstruction of justice and abuse of power. The sentence is two years higher than that imposed in the first instance. The politician's defenders announced an appeal to the Supreme Court.

— The accused not only tried to make it difficult for prosecutors to legally execute the orders (arrests – PAP), but also gave illegal orders to presidential security officers, trying to use them as private security guards – the judge said in his justification.

Both parties appealed against the original five-year prison sentence handed down in January. The defense argued that the arrest warrants for Jun in connection with the investigation into his attempt to impose martial law in late 2024 were based on an illegal investigation. The prosecutor's office demanded that the sentence be increased to 10 years' imprisonment.

At the same time, unlike the lower court, the appeals court found the 65-year-old politician guilty of charges of which he had previously been partially cleared. This includes: for convening a meeting of the government with no members to declare martial law, in violation of the constitutional rights of nine ministers to participate in the meeting. It is also about issuing official instructions ordering the dissemination of false assurances in the media that the president has no intention of overthrowing the democratic order.

The country's former leader is currently in prison. In February, he was sentenced to life in prison on charges of leading a coup d'état in connection with an attempt to impose martial law in the country and sending the army to parliament. The politician filed an appeal.

A third proceeding is also pending against him. Last Friday, South Korean prosecutors demanded a 30-year prison sentence for Jun for acting to benefit the enemy, accusing Jun of sending military drones over North Korean territory in 2024 to provoke the regime in Pyongyang.

Former first lady Kim Keon Hi is also in prison. On Tuesday, a Seoul appeals court sentenced her to four years in prison for stock fraud and accepting a financial advantage. In the first instance, Kim was sentenced to one year and eight months in prison.

Krzysztof Pawliszak (PAP)

krp/ akl/