South Korean court sentences former president Yoon Suk Yeol to five years in prison

A South Korean court has sentenced former president Yoon Suk Yeol to five years in prison in connection with criminal charges linked to his controversial declaration of martial law in late 2024.

The ruling, delivered Friday by the Seoul Central District Court, marks the first verdict among eight separate criminal trials Yoon is facing related to the decree and other alleged misconduct. The court convicted Yoon on charges including defying authorities during attempts to detain him and fabricating official documents.

Prosecutors had argued that Yoon obstructed law enforcement and abused presidential authority during the period following the martial law announcement, which triggered widespread political turmoil and public protests across South Korea.

The most serious allegation against Yoon, leading a rebellion in relation to the enforcement of martial law, was not decided in Friday’s ruling. That charge remains under separate review and carries a potential death sentence under South Korean law if proven.

Yoon was removed from office following impeachment proceedings after lawmakers accused him of undermining democratic institutions. His ongoing trials are being closely watched in South Korea and internationally, as they test the country’s legal framework for holding former leaders accountable.