The Seoul District Court sentenced Mr. Yoon Suk Yeol - former President of South Korea - to 5 years in prison for crimes related to obstructing functional agencies after unsuccessful efforts to declare martial law. The televised sentencing showed that the court determined that Mr. Yoon Suk Yeol committed the crime of obstructing the execution of arrest warrants related to the declaration of martial law in December 2024.
According to the verdict, Mr. Yoon Suk Yeol obstructed authorities from executing the arrest warrant when investigators tried to access his residence. The court also concluded that he committed other crimes, including forging official documents and not fully complying with mandatory legal procedures when issuing martial law. This is the first verdict in a series of criminal cases that Mr. Yoon Suk Yeol faces related to the controversial martial law decision.
The sentence may be appealed according to legal regulations. Previously, Mr. Yoon Suk Yeol faced the risk of being sentenced to up to 10 years in prison if convicted of all charges, including obstructing officials from performing their duties when the arrest warrant was issued in January 2025. At that time, Mr. Yoon barricaded himself in the residential area and directed security forces to prevent investigators.
After the first failed attempt, authorities arrested Mr. Yoon Suk Yeol for the second time with the participation of more than 3,000 police officers. The incident marked the first time an incumbent president in South Korea was arrested. Currently, Mr. Yoon Suk Yeol is being detained at the Seoul Detention Center.
In addition to the sentence just announced, Mr. Yoon Suk Yeol also faces many other trials, including the charge of masterminding the rebellion. Prosecutors have proposed the death penalty for this charge, with a ruling expected to be issued in February.
When declaring martial law, Mr. Yoon Suk Yeol was accused of forging documents and argued that this move was to restore democracy before the opposition and "anti-state forces".
After a surprise martial law announcement, the South Korean National Assembly, with the participation of a number of parliamentarians from Mr. Yoon Suk Yeol's conservative party, quickly voted to reject the decree and proceeded with impeachment, suspending his power.
Mr. Yoon Suk Yeol was later impeached by the Constitutional Court for violating presidential duties. Although martial law lasted only about 6 hours, this event deeply shocked South Korean politics and society.
