Seoul: A Seoul court on Friday sentenced two men to 10-month prison terms each for their violent behavior during a courthouse riot related to former President Yoon Suk Yeol in January. The Seoul Western District Court handed down the sentences to a 61-year-old man surnamed Woo for assaulting reporters for broadcaster MBC, and to a 61-year-old surnamed An for climbing over a fence and trespassing on the court's grounds.
According to Yonhap News Agency, two others, surnamed Nam and Lee, were given suspended prison terms for assaulting police officers during the riot. "Freedom of the press is a core value protecting democracy," the court said in its ruling. "If the victim can become a target of hate and violence simply for working for a particular news outlet, freedom of the press will be greatly undermined and democracy will certainly retreat to a large extent."
A total of 63 people have been indicted in connection with the riot, which was prompted by the court's decision to extend Yoon's detention over his Dec. 3 declaration of martial law. A team of lawyers representing the rioters said they plan to appeal the ruling. Earlier this week, the court sentenced two other men to 1 1/2-year and one-year prison terms for breaking into the court's compound.