Special counsel seeks five-year term for Yoon

Prosecutors in Seoul have asked for a five-year prison term for current President Yoon Suk Yeol on charges that he aided a fugitive and abused power by helping former Defense Minister Lee Jong-seop evade a criminal investigation by appointing him ambassador to Australia in 2023. The request was made at the final hearing of Yoon's trial at the Seoul Central District Court, part of a broader web of indictments against officials tied to the case. Prosecutors contend Yoon used state power for personal and political purposes ahead of the general election and disrupted the criminal justice process, including involvement of ministry and security office officials. The case centers on the 2023-2024 sequence surrounding the death of Marine Corporal Chae Su-geun and alleged attempts to reverse findings to shield command personnel. Related defendants include former security service officials and ministers facing prison terms ranging from two to three years, underscoring the alleged network of concealment and abuse. The developments come as Yoon faces a mounting legal saga after a previous controversial martial-law episode, with the court's ruling expected in due course.