A South Korean court on Friday sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to five years in prison for obstructing justice and related offences stemming from his failed martial law declaration in December 2024.
Judge Baek Dae-hyun of the Seoul Central District Court ruled that Yoon unlawfully blocked investigators from detaining him and excluded key cabinet members from a meeting where martial law was planned. The judge said Yoon gravely violated his constitutional duty as president by disregarding the rule of law.
However, the court dismissed charges of forging official documents, citing insufficient evidence. Yoon has seven days to appeal. Prosecutors had sought a 10-year jail term, which the former leader rejected, insisting he broke no law.
The ruling is the first in a series of cases facing Yoon following his brief suspension of civilian rule, which sparked nationwide protests and a parliamentary showdown.
In a separate case, prosecutors recently demanded the death penalty, accusing Yoon of leading an “insurrection” by imposing martial law. South Korea, however, has observed an unofficial moratorium on executions since 1997.
Yoon has remained defiant, maintaining that his actions were a lawful exercise of presidential emergency powers. The court is expected to rule on the insurrection charges on February 19. He also faces trial over allegations of authorising drone flights over North Korea to justify the declaration of martial law.
