The Tamesis
February 23, 2026
Seoul – After the Seoul Central District Court sentenced former President Yun Seok-yeol to life in prison on Thursday for leading a rebellion, Yun Seok-yeol’s lawyer made it clear that he was skeptical of an appeal and that did not mean he would abandon the process.
“(Yin) only expressed his current thoughts and did not show any intention to reject the appeal,” his lawyer immediately told reporters. Both Yoon and the special prosecutor are widely expected to appeal, having sought the death penalty against the former leader under martial law in December 2024.
Thursday’s ruling drew negative reactions from both liberals and conservatives, with the former criticizing the decision as too lenient and the latter emphasizing that the decision has not yet been finalized by the Supreme Court.
Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the main opposition People’s Power Party, the ruling party during Yoon Eun-hye’s administration, said on Friday that “this is only a first-instance verdict” and “the presumption of innocence should be applied,” raising concerns among moderate members of the party that the party has failed to distance itself from Yoon before local elections in June.
Yin himself expressed doubts about the criminal proceedings.
“When the independence of the judiciary cannot be guaranteed and it is difficult to expect a verdict based on law and conscience, I have doubts about the effectiveness of pursuing a legal battle through appeals,” Yoon said in a statement issued on the second day of the hearing.
On the day of the verdict, Chung Chung-rae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, also criticized the verdict.
“Life imprisonment is the minimum sentence that can be imposed on rebel leaders,” Jung said. “This is a ruling that is deeply contradictory to the legal sensibilities of the people.”
With public opinion still divided, the Supreme Court is expected to make a final ruling on Yin’s rebellion charges by September at the latest.
The special prosecutor prosecuting Yoon’s case said he would decide on Monday whether to file an appeal.
Under Korean law, defendants and prosecutors must appeal or waive that right within seven days of the initial ruling.
While Yin’s comments fueled speculation that he might give up his appeal, such a waiver is unlikely due to the severity of his sentence.
According to Article 349 of the Criminal Procedure Law, “A criminal defendant who is sentenced to death, life imprisonment, hard labor or life imprisonment may not give up his appeal.”
Yin therefore had two options: appeal or remain silent. If no intention is expressed within seven days, the ruling will be automatically terminated.
In South Korea, prosecutors often waive their right to appeal if the defendant appeals first. Legal experts say this may be Yin’s main strategy, as he is likely to receive the lowest possible sentence for a rebellion conviction. However, the law makes such a waiver impossible.
In addition, Article 341 stipulates that the defendant’s family or lawyer can appeal on behalf of the defendant, but the defendant has not waived this right. Therefore, even if Yoon remains silent, his lawyers will most likely file an appeal.
Yin’s lawyers said Friday they would make a decision after receiving the full written verdict.
Final verdict before September
The trial timeline is becoming clearer as both the special prosecutor and Yoon’s legal team signal appeals.
Under South Korean law, second and third-instance rulings on special prosecutor cases must be completed within three months of the last ruling.
That means Yin’s appeal decision is expected to be made by June, while the Supreme Court’s final decision must be made by September at the latest.
Yoon’s appeal will be heard by one of two newly established tribunals dedicated to rebellion cases launched by the Seoul High Court on Monday.
The departments will handle rebellion-related appeals, including those of former Prime Minister Han Deok-soo and former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min, who were sentenced to 23 and seven years in prison respectively.
The leading defendants in the rebellion trials appealed immediately after the district court’s respective rulings. Former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun filed an appeal on Thursday, shortly after being sentenced to 30 years in prison for aiding Yoon’s rebellion.
Former National Police Agency chief Cho Ji-ho and former South Korea Defense Intelligence Command chief Noh Sang-won also appealed on Friday after being sentenced to 12 and 18 years in prison respectively.
Separately, Yoon appealed against the five-year prison sentence he was sentenced to on Jan. 16 for hindering apprehension. He still faces a first-instance trial on six counts related to the imposition of martial law in 2024, including lying under oath and aiding the enemy.
