Ex-South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been sentenced to five years in jail by a South Korean court on Friday, January 16. The charges against the former President included obstructing authorities from arresting him after Yoon tried to impose martial law in South Korea in December 2024, Reuters reported.
Yoon Suk Yeol sentenced to prison
Yoon was found guilty by the Seoul Central District Court in the first ruling regarding the failed attempt by the former President to impose martial law in his country. He has been sentenced for suing the presidential security service to prevent his arrest by the requisite authorities. The authorities had gone to arrest Yoon after a court issued a warrant against him for the investigation of the martial law declaration.
Yoon has also been charged with the fabrication of official documents and non-compliance with the required legal process for the enactment of martial law.
The lead judge on the court panel said, "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 ... loyal to the Republic of Korea for personal safety and personal gain."
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Yoon's advocates have said that the former President would be appealing the decision. "We express regret that the decision was made in a politicised manner," said Yoo Jung-hwa, an advocate of Yoon Suk Yeol, Reuters reported.
Yoon could face death penalty
In a separate case, Yoon could even face the death penalty on charges of orchestrating an insurrection by declaring martial law without legal grounds. He has defended the move, insisting that as president he had the authority to impose martial law and that the decision was meant to warn against what he described as obstruction by opposition parties.
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Yoon has also denied the charges he faced on Friday. After an initial failed attempt, authorities eventually arrested Yoon in a massive operation involving more than 3,000 police officers in 2024. The arrest marked a historic moment, making Yoon the first sitting president in South Korea to be taken into custody.
