South Korea’s Former President Yoon Suk Yeol Sentenced to Five Years in Prison Over Martial Law Case

Seoul, South Korea – A South Korean court has handed former President Yoon Suk Yeol a five-year prison sentence after finding him guilty of multiple offenses related to his controversial declaration of martial law in December 2024. The ruling marks a significant chapter in the country’s ongoing political and legal turmoil.

The Central District Court in Seoul delivered the verdict on Friday, determining that Yoon obstructed authorities from executing an arrest warrant tied to the martial law declaration. The former president was also found guilty of falsifying official documents and failing to comply with the proper legal procedures required for imposing martial law.

Judge Baek Dae-hyun emphasized Yoon’s failure to uphold the Constitution, noting the severity of his misconduct.

“Despite having a duty, above all others, to uphold the Constitution and observe the rule of law as president, the defendant instead displayed an attitude that disregarded the Constitution,” Judge Baek said.
“The defendant’s culpability is extremely grave.”

Yoon has seven days to appeal the verdict, according to the court. Immediately after the ruling, one of Yoon’s attorneys, Yoo Jung-hwa, confirmed that the former president intends to appeal. She criticized the judgment, claiming it was politically influenced:

“We express regret that the decision was made in a politicised manner,” she stated.

The court’s decision is the first in a series of criminal proceedings Yoon faces over his short-lived martial law attempt, which lasted roughly six hours but triggered nationwide protests and shook South Korea’s reputation as a stable democracy. The public outcry ultimately led to Yoon’s impeachment, arrest, and dismissal from the presidency.

Supporters of the ex-president gathered outside the courthouse, demonstrating their disapproval of the verdict. Analysts have warned that this ruling may influence the outcome of Yoon’s ongoing insurrection trial, which carries the possibility of the death penalty.

“These charges are not directly related to the main insurrection case that is still ongoing,” said political analyst Barton.
“Guilty on all of these charges, and it feeds into that main trial. The verdict for the insurrection case is expected in February.”

Throughout the proceedings, Yoon has maintained his innocence, arguing that his declaration of martial law was within presidential powers and intended to address obstruction by opposition parties. However, prosecutors have accused him of abusing his office, with special counsel Cho Eun-suk’s team initially requesting a 10-year sentence. The five-year term handed down is notably half of what prosecutors sought, according to Yonhap News Agency.

The ruling has significant political implications and is expected to shape public perception as well as the outcome of the insurrection trial, which remains one of the most closely watched legal cases in modern South Korean history.