A South Korean court on Friday sentenced former president Yoon Suk Yeol to five years in prison for obstruction of justice and other offences linked to his controversial declaration of martial law and its chaotic aftermath.
Judge Baek Dae-hyun of Seoul’s Central District Court ruled that Yoon deliberately blocked investigators from detaining him and unlawfully excluded cabinet members from a key meeting related to the planning of martial law.
The verdict marks the first in a series of trials facing the disgraced former leader, whose brief suspension of civilian rule on December 3, 2024 triggered mass protests and a political crisis that ultimately led to his removal from office.
Despite his constitutional duty as president, the court said Yoon had shown disregard for the rule of law and the Constitution. The judge termed his actions “extremely grave”, underscoring the seriousness of the offences.
However, the court acquitted Yoon of forging official documents, citing insufficient evidence. He has seven days to file an appeal.
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Prosecutors had sought a 10-year prison sentence, arguing that Yoon’s actions undermined democratic order. The former president has consistently denied wrongdoing, insisting that his declaration of martial law was a lawful use of presidential emergency powers.
The sentencing comes days after prosecutors, in a separate case, demanded the death penalty for Yoon over insurrection charges related to the same episode. A verdict in that case is expected on February 19.
Yoon also faces another trial on allegations of aiding the enemy, linked to claims that he ordered drone flights over North Korea to justify the imposition of martial law.
