A historic court ruling in South Korea exposed that former president Yoon Suk-yeol used the state of siege decree to try to escape criminal investigations. The magistrate responsible for the trial of Park Sung-jae, former holder of the Justice portfolio, concluded that the ally’s summons on December 3rd occurred shortly after the arrest of the central figure in a political scandal, Myeong Tae-gyun. The drastic maneuver, which recalled the Asian country’s darkest periods and lasted just a few hours before being overturned by parliament, was classified as a direct violation of the Constitution. The court stated that the extreme decision was motivated exclusively by the head of state’s desperation in shielding his own image before the law.
Chronology points to sudden change of plans in the presidential office
Judge Lee Jin-kwan, head of the 33rd Criminal Court of the Seoul Central District Court, imposed a severe sentence of a quarter of a century in prison on the former minister for the crime of rebellion. The case records detail that the Executive leader had scheduled a standard meeting for 9pm that night. However, the scenario changed drastically when the news of the political operator’s indictment reached the corridors of power, forcing an emergency anticipation of the meeting.
- At 7:41 pm, the president called demanding the immediate presence of his ally at the government complex.
- Nine minutes later, at 7:50 pm, the former minister began his physical journey to the Executive headquarters.
- During the journey, calls were made to the Public Crimes Division seeking confidential data on the progress of the investigations.
Search for hidden evidence motivated actions outside legal protocol
The government’s desperation had a clear target, according to the interpretation of the South Korean magistrates who analyzed the evidence. Judicial authorities understood that the president’s sudden interest was not in ensuring national security, but rather in discovering the whereabouts of an electronic device nicknamed the “Golden Telephone”. As the political operator had been detained on charges of inciting the concealment of documentary evidence, the government’s top brass demonstrated urgency in accessing this information before independent investigators.
Witness reports confirm the former president’s fury
The verdict gained strength with the inclusion of crucial testimonies, especially that of Kim Yong-hyun, who witnessed the tense moments before the announcement on national television. The deponent reported that the South Korean leader was visibly out of control as investigations into interference in public appointments progressed. Phrases of indignation about the state of the country were shouted, showing that the exceptional measure was designed as a tool of retaliation and self-defense against the justice system.
Final sentence exceeds special prosecutor’s original request
The heavy sentence reflected the seriousness of the former chief justice’s collaboration with the attempted democratic rupture. The court made it clear that the defendant embraced the coup plan, fully aware of its unconstitutionality and the devastating impact on South Korean institutions. The punishment of 25 years in a closed regime demonstrated the court’s rigor, exceeding the initial expectations of the process. The team led by special prosecutor Cho Eun-seok had requested a sentence of 20 years in prison, but the judges understood that the convict’s powerful position required an even harsher judicial response.