Daegu Mayor Choo Kyung-ho, indicted without detention on charges of obstructing the National Assembly's vote to lift martial law during the Dec. 3 emergency declaration, faced a prosecution request for a 20-year prison sentence.
The special counsel team led by Cho Eun-suk asked the court on the 30th to impose a 20-year term at the final hearing in Choo's case on charges of playing a key role in an insurrection. The hearing was held before the 34th criminal division of the Seoul Central District Court, presided over by Chief Judge Han Sung-jin. Choo would lose his post as mayor if convicted and the Supreme Court finalizes a sentence of imprisonment or heavier.
The special counsel argued that Choo joined the insurrection after receiving a request for cooperation from former President Yoon Suk-yeol, despite recognizing that the emergency martial law declaration was unlawful. "He helped the insurrection forces by scattering lawmakers so the National Assembly could not stop martial law," the special counsel said. "A lawmaker who had sworn to uphold the constitution voluntarily took part in an insurrection."
"The defendant used in reverse the power to lift martial law that was entrusted to the National Assembly," the special counsel added. "We must show what punishment follows when someone deceives the public." The team also argued the court should consider fairness in relation to cabinet members and senior military and police officials who recently received heavy sentences after being found to have played key roles in the insurrection.
Choo was sent to trial on charges that, as floor leader of the People Power Party at the time of the emergency martial law declaration, he repeatedly changed the venue of the party's general meeting and thereby obstructed party lawmakers from joining the Assembly's vote to lift martial law. The special counsel believes Choo changed the venue after taking a call from Yoon following the declaration, prompting lawmakers to leave the main chamber.
Choo's side says the call with Yoon was to the effect of apologizing for not having shared the contents of his address in advance, and that there was no request to cooperate with martial law. It also argues that the decision to gather at party headquarters rather than the Assembly was due to the police blockade of the National Assembly at the time.
