SEOUL, July 24 (Yonhap) -- A special counsel team on Friday sought prison terms of 20 to 30 years for five former military commanders indicted over their roles in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's 2024 martial law bid.

The team, led by special counsel Cho Eun-suk, demanded 30-year prison terms for Yeo In-hyeong, former commander of the Defense Counterintelligence Command, and Lee Jin-woo, former chief of the Capital Defense Command, during a hearing at the Seoul Central District Court.

Cho's team also demanded a 25-year sentence for former Army Chief of Staff Park An-su, who served as the martial law commander, and 20-year terms for Kwak Jong-geun, former commander of the Army Special Warfare Command, and Moon Sang-ho, former commander of the Military Intelligence Command.

The defendants are accused of deploying troops to the National Assembly and the National Election Commission, and organizing and operating arrest teams for politicians after martial law was declared Dec. 3, 2024.

Cho's team said the defendants fundamentally undermined the core value of democracy by disregarding the legal procedures prescribed by the Constitution and attempting to prevent state institutions, including the National Assembly, from exercising their authority through violent means.

It also argued that the four defendants, except for Park, took part in the conspiracy and preparations for the martial law declaration well in advance, rather than merely following orders from their superiors.

The team separately criticized Yeo for playing the leading role in the martial law preparations and Lee for issuing orders to arrest politicians and drag lawmakers out of the National Assembly.

ycm@yna.co.kr

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