A South Korean court on Friday, sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to five years in prison over charges connected to his failed attempt to impose martial law in December 2024.
The Seoul Central District Court found Yoon guilty of obstructing law enforcement after he allegedly deployed the presidential security service to stop authorities from executing an arrest warrant against him. The court also ruled that he falsified official documents and failed to comply with the legally mandated process for declaring martial law, which requires deliberation at a formal cabinet meeting.
The ruling represents the first verdict in a series of criminal cases arising from Yoon’s brief declaration of martial law, which lasted about six hours but triggered widespread political turmoil across South Korea.
In its judgment, the court said Yoon abused his presidential powers by using state security personnel to block lawful warrants, effectively placing public officials meant to serve the Republic at his personal disposal for self-protection.
Yoon, 65, remained composed as the sentence was read in a courtroom filled with supporters. His lawyers immediately announced plans to appeal, arguing that the judgment was politically motivated. Prosecutors declined to state whether they would contest the sentence.
In a separate ongoing case, prosecutors are seeking the death penalty, accusing Yoon of orchestrating an insurrection by attempting to impose military rule without legal justification and suspend the National Assembly.
Currently held at the Seoul Detention Center, Yoon has maintained that the martial law declaration was within his constitutional authority, claiming it was meant to highlight what he described as obstruction of governance by opposition parties.
Outside the courthouse, a small group of supporters gathered under heavy police presence, holding placards alleging that Yoon was targeted in a political witch hunt and insisting he remains the country’s legitimate leader.
Yoon could have faced up to 10 years in prison on the obstruction charges alone. He was eventually arrested during a second operation involving more than 3,000 police officers, becoming the first sitting South Korean president to be taken into custody.
Following the declaration, parliament swiftly voted to overturn the martial law order, with support from members of Yoon’s own party. He was later impeached and formally removed from office by the Constitutional Court for violating his constitutional responsibilities.
Although short-lived, Yoon’s attempt to impose martial law dealt a significant blow to public confidence in South Korea’s democracy. His conviction places him among several former South Korean leaders who have faced imprisonment, reinforcing the country’s tradition of holding even its highest officials accountable under the law.