Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol Sentenced to Five Years Over Martial Law Crisis

In a landmark ruling, a South Korean court has sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to five years in prison for obstructing justice and other crimes tied to his controversial martial law declaration and the ensuing chaos.

The verdict marks the first in a series of cases against Yoon, whose abrupt suspension of civilian rule on December 3, 2024, triggered mass protests and a parliamentary showdown, ultimately leading to his ouster.

Presiding at Seoul’s Central District Court, Judge Baek Dae-hyun found Yoon guilty of obstructing justice by interfering with investigators seeking his detention. He was also convicted of excluding cabinet members from a critical martial law planning meeting.

“Despite his paramount duty to uphold the Constitution and safeguard the rule of law, the defendant acted with blatant disregard for both,” Judge Baek said, emphasizing that Yoon’s actions carried “extremely grave culpability.”

However, the court acquitted Yoon of forging official documents, citing insufficient evidence. He has seven days to appeal the sentence. Prosecutors had sought a ten-year prison term, while Yoon maintained that he broke no law.

Defiance Amid Proceedings

The ruling comes days after prosecutors in a separate trial called for the death penalty, branding Yoon the “ringleader of an insurrection” for his role in imposing martial law. While South Korea has observed an unofficial moratorium on executions since 1997, the prosecutors argued that Yoon’s actions showed “no remorse” and posed a severe threat to constitutional order and democracy.

Throughout the proceedings, Yoon remained defiant, even smiling as the harshest penalties were demanded. He has consistently defended his martial law declaration as a legitimate exercise of presidential emergency powers.

In his closing statement, Yoon argued: “The exercise of a president’s constitutional emergency powers to protect the nation and uphold the constitutional order cannot be deemed an act of insurrection. Faced with legislative obstruction, awakening the people—the sovereign—was the only option.”

The court is expected to rule on the insurrection charges on February 19. Meanwhile, Yoon faces another trial over allegations of aiding the enemy, including ordering drone flights over North Korea to justify his martial law actions.