Appeal hearings begin in ex-South Korea President Yoon's obstruction case

A South Korean court held an appeals hearing on Wednesday in a case involving former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was sentenced to five years in jail by a lower court on charges including obstructing arrest after his attempt to impose martial law.

* At the first hearing at the Seoul High Court onobstruction of justice and other charges stemming from hismartial law bid in December 2024, Yoon appeared in a dark navysuit, the Yonhap News Agency said. * Prosecutors, who had sought a 10-year term for Yoon,argued the five-year sentence was "far too lenient" given thatYoon had shown no remorse and offered no apology to the public,according to Yonhap. * Yoon's legal team argued the five-year sentence alreadyexceeded his culpable responsibility, and the arrest warrantsagainst Yoon were invalid from the outset, calling on the courtto overturn the verdict and acquit him, Yonhap reported. * Given the floor by the presiding judge, Yoon again deniedwrongdoing, the report said. * The appeals trial comes weeks after Yoon suffered a farmore severe legal blow in a separate case. The former presidentwas sentenced to life in prison by a lower court, which foundhim guilty of leading an insurrection during his short-livedimposition of martial law.