Seoul: A special counsel team on Monday demanded a 10-year prison term for former President Yoon Suk Yeol during the appeals trial of his obstruction of justice case stemming from his 2024 imposition of martial law.

According to Yonhap News Agency, special counsel Cho Eun-suk's team sought the sentence at the final hearing at the Seoul High Court, double the five-year term handed down by a lower court in January. The prosecution argued that the harsher sentence reflects the severity of Yoon's actions, which were deemed to undermine the rule of law and democratic principles.

Yoon was convicted by the lower court of obstructing investigators from detaining him last year and calling only select Cabinet members to a meeting to review his martial law plan. The case has been closely watched as it involves significant legal and political implications, given Yoon's previous position as president and the controversial nature of his martial law imposition.

The appeals trial has drawn significant public and media attention, with many awaiting the court's decision on whether to uphold the lower court's ruling or agree with the special counsel's demand for a stricter sentence. The outcome is expected to set a precedent for how similar cases might be handled in the future.