South Korea Court Jails Ex-President Yoon in First Ruling on Martial Law

A South Korean court has sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to five years in prison, marking the first criminal ruling linked to his failed attempt to impose martial law in December 2024.

The verdict, delivered Friday by the Seoul Central District Court in televised proceedings, concludes the first of several cases stemming from one of the country’s most severe political crises in decades.

Court Findings

The three-judge panel found Yoon guilty of multiple charges, including obstructing justice, fabricating official documents, and violating constitutional procedures required for declaring martial law.

The court ruled that Yoon mobilised the Presidential Security Service to block investigators from executing an arrest warrant in January 2025.

Judges also determined that he failed to properly convene a full cabinet meeting before announcing martial law, as required by law.

“The defendant abused his enormous influence as president to prevent the execution of legitimate warrants through officials from the Security Service, which effectively privatised officials … for personal safety and personal gain,” the presiding judge said.

Yoon, 65, showed no visible reaction as the sentence was read in a packed courtroom.

His legal team said he would appeal, describing the ruling as politicised.

Broader Legal Fallout

The sentencing follows Yoon’s impeachment and removal from office after parliament overturned his martial law decree within hours of its declaration.

The former president was arrested after a second attempt involving more than 3,000 police officers, becoming the first sitting South Korean president to be detained.

While the five-year term is tied to obstruction-related charges, prosecutors are pursuing separate cases that carry far more severe potential penalties.

Yoon is currently on trial for insurrection related to orders issued during the martial law episode, a charge for which prosecutors have sought the death penalty.

He also faces an ongoing treason case alleging attempts to provoke a military crisis with North Korea to justify emergency rule.

South Korea has not carried out an execution since 1997.

The court’s decision establishes a legal precedent as proceedings continue against a former leader whose actions briefly plunged the country into constitutional crisis.