Former South Korean President Yun Suk-yeol sentenced to five years in prison
Archive photo. Yoon Suk-yeol, former president of South Korea, sentenced to five years in prison
He also faces the death penalty on charges of organizing a rebellion.
The Seoul Central District Court ruled that Yoon Suk-yeol received five years of imprisonment for his actions related to the declaration of martial law, including obstructing an arrest.
The prosecution sought a 10-year prison sentence, with five years for resisting arrest, two years for unlawfully revising the martial law decree, and three years for violating the rights of cabinet members, spreading false information in foreign media, and destroying evidence.
The Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) attempted to arrest Yoon in early January of last year when he ignored summonses for questioning regarding charges of treason and rebellion three times.
Recall that on December 4, 2024, Yoon Suk-yeol announced the introduction of martial law, justifying it by the need to "cleanse the country of pro-North Korean forces and preserve the liberal constitutional order."
In response, special forces troops were deployed to the National Assembly to block access to the building. However, many lawmakers managed to enter, and their supporters prevented the military from entering, allowing the legislators to pass a resolution demanding the repeal of martial law, with support from 190 votes out of 300.
Later, Yoon apologized for his actions and promised not to impose martial law again, as well as not to evade responsibility, either political or legal.
The opposition accused him of attempting a coup d'état, and Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun and Interior Minister Lee Sang-min, along with other key figures from the military and police, were also implicated. On December 14, the South Korean parliament supported the impeachment of Yoon Suk-yeol.
As a result, early elections had to be held.
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