SEOUL: Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was sentenced to five years in prison on Friday for obstruction of justice and related offenses tied to his controversial martial law declaration on December 3, 2024, and the subsequent unrest it triggered. The ruling marks the first of several expected verdicts against the ousted leader.
Read More: Two trials, one president: South Korea’s Yoon in the dock
Judge Baek Dae-hyun at Seoul’s district court said Yoon obstructed investigators by preventing his detention and abused his presidential powers by turning presidential security officials into personal guards serving his “own safety and private interests.” He also excluded cabinet members from key martial law planning meetings, violating his constitutional duties. Baek described Yoon’s culpability as “extremely grave” but acquitted him of forging official documents due to insufficient evidence.
South Korea’s former impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol has been sentenced to 5 years in prison on arrest obstruction charges, live footage shows https://t.co/QYez1srRAS pic.twitter.com/2XoIkAvX9t
— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) January 16, 2026
Prosecutors had sought a 10-year sentence, while Yoon insisted he had broken no law. His lawyers argued the verdict blurred the line between lawful presidential authority and criminal liability, warning that it could constrain future presidents during national crises.
Yoon remained defiant, claiming his martial law declaration was a lawful exercise of emergency powers aimed at protecting the nation. He accused the opposition party of imposing an “unconstitutional dictatorship” through legislative control and maintained that mobilizing the public was necessary to uphold constitutional order.
Supporters outside the court initially fell silent before chanting slogans, while Yoon reportedly smiled during proceedings. He has seven days to appeal.
Read More: South Korea’s Yoon back in court for impeachment hearing
The court is scheduled to issue a separate ruling on insurrection charges against Yoon, for which prosecutors recently recommended the death penalty, on February 19. South Korea has maintained an unofficial moratorium on executions since 1997, making the death sentence unlikely to be carried out.