Yoon's Obstruction Case Appeal Assigned to Insurrection Court

The appeals for former President Yoon Suk-yeol's arrest obstruction and cabinet deliberation rights violation case, as well as former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo's insurrection case, have been assigned to the dedicated insurrection court panels.

According to legal circles on the 23rd, Yoon's appeal for charges including special obstruction of official duties was assigned to Seoul High Court Criminal Division 1 (Presiding Judges Yoon Sung-sik, Min Sung-chul, and Lee Dong-hyun). Han's case involving participation in critical duties during insurrection was assigned to Seoul High Court Criminal Division 12-1 (Presiding Judges Lee Seung-chul, Cho Jin-gu, and Kim Min-a).

The cases were initially handled temporarily by Seoul High Court Criminal Division 20 (Senior Presiding Judge Hong Dong-ki) but were reassigned today as the dedicated insurrection court panels became operational.

Seoul High Court held a plenary judges' meeting on the 5th of this month and designated two divisions through random selection from among 16 criminal divisions, excluding three with disqualification grounds. This measure follows the implementation of the "Special Act on Criminal Procedures for Insurrection, Foreign Aggression, and Rebellion Crimes."

Seoul High Court Criminal Division 1 comprises Senior Judge Yoon Sung-sik (58, Judicial Research and Training Institute Class 24), Judge Min Sung-chul (53, Class 29), and Judge Lee Dong-hyun (45, Class 36).

Criminal Division 12-1 consists of Judge Lee Seung-chul (54, Class 26), Judge Cho Jin-gu (56, Class 29), and Judge Kim Min-a (48, Class 34). This panel operates as an equal-status court where three high court judges deliberate and decide on equal footing, with presiding judge duties rotating by case.

Starting today, both divisions will reassign their existing cases to other panels and exclusively handle cases prosecuted by the special counsel team (Special Prosecutor Cho Eun-seok).

Former President Yoon received a five-year sentence in the first trial for obstructing the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials' arrest warrant execution. Former Prime Minister Han was sentenced to 23 years for participation in critical duties during insurrection. Both the special counsel team and the defendants have appealed these cases.

Former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min, who received a seven-year sentence for participation in critical duties during insurrection, also faces a mutual appeal from both the special counsel and defense. His case will soon be assigned to an appeals panel.

If former President Yoon appeals his life sentence for leading the insurrection, handed down on the 19th, his case would likewise be assigned to the dedicated insurrection court. While Yoon's side has not yet clarified its intention to appeal, observers note that an appeal is highly likely given the severe sentence.