Seoul, South Korea – Former President Yoon Suk Yeol has been handed a five-year prison sentence by the Seoul Central District Court for his role in a failed attempt to declare martial law, marking a significant legal blow to the ex-leader. Presiding Judge Baek Dae-hyun found Yoon guilty of abuse of power, obstruction of justice, and falsifying documents, stemming from actions taken in late 2024 that plunged the nation into a severe political crisis. This verdict represents the inaugural judicial decision in the series of trials linked to the controversial martial law decree.
The events leading to Yoon's downfall began on December 3, 2024, when he unilaterally declared martial law, a move that lasted a mere six hours before his administration relented. Prosecutors allege that Yoon had been orchestrating this operation since October 2023, with the ultimate aim of subverting democratic institutions. Their indictment paints a chilling picture of a leader allegedly seeking to leverage military force to incapacitate the legislature, detain political adversaries, and seize control of the election commission, thereby consolidating power for an extended tenure. The court's condemnation highlighted Yoon's betrayal of his constitutional duties, with Judge Baek stating, "The accused has the duty to safeguard the constitution and law but turned his back on them."
The declaration of martial law saw the deployment of police and armed military personnel to the National Assembly, an action that ignited nationwide turmoil and widespread protests. Lawmakers, in a desperate bid to counter Yoon's unilateral decision, were forced to convene emergency sessions, with some accounts detailing parliamentarians scaling fences to reach the legislative building. Yoon's alleged methods extended to the obstruction of his own potential arrest, with hundreds of presidential security service officers reportedly forming barricades and human chains to thwart a court-issued warrant for his detention. Judge Baek further elaborated on this aspect, noting, "The defendant abused his tremendous influence as president to obstruct lawful warrant execution, effectively privatising security officials sworn to serve the Republic of Korea into his personal troops."
Beyond the martial law bid, Yoon is also facing a separate, more grave insurrection trial, where prosecutors have controversially sought the death penalty. The charges in that proceeding centre on Yoon's alleged intent to employ military force to paralyze governmental functions and silence opposition. Plans purportedly documented by Yoon included preparing to inflict harm on election officials and severing power to media outlets, underscoring the extreme nature of the alleged conspiracy. The gravity of these accusations is underscored by the fact that this insurrection trial is the first concerning a South Korean head of state in three decades, a testament to the unprecedented nature of the crisis.
The fallout from Yoon's actions was swift and decisive. In December 2024, Members of Parliament initiated impeachment proceedings, culminating in Yoon's removal from office by the Constitutional Court in April 2025. This conviction, while focused on specific charges, offers a significant indicator of the legal landscape surrounding Yoon's broader legal entanglements. The political vacuum created by Yoon's ousting paved the way for a snap election, which saw Yoon's political rival, Lee Jae Myung, ascend to the presidency. Yoon's legal team has unequivocally stated their intention to appeal the five-year sentence, ensuring that this chapter of South Korean political history is far from closed.