Overview
- The special counsel, led by Cho Eun-suk, asked the Seoul Central District Court on Friday in a closed-door hearing to sentence Yoon Suk Yeol to 30 years and former defense minister Kim Yong-hyun to 25 years, with a ruling to come later.
- Prosecutors say Yoon ordered military drones over Pyongyang in October 2024 to provoke a North Korean response that could justify his December 3 martial law attempt.
- They argue national security was harmed because a drone crashed in the North, which they say exposed South Korea’s capabilities and raised inter-Korean tensions.
- Yoon denies the accusation through his lawyers, saying he did not take steps that could trigger a clash with North Korea.
- The special counsel has also sought 20 years for Yeo In-hyung and five years for Kim Yong-dae over their alleged roles in the drone operation.