The court found Yoon Suk-yeol guilty of abuse of power and incitement to rebellion. The prosecution insisted on the death penalty; however, the former president, who has been in custody since his arrest, denies his guilt. He claims that his actions were part of his presidential powers aimed at drawing attention to the obstruction of government work by opposition parties. Yoon Suk-yeol's lawyer announced plans to discuss the possibility of filing an appeal, calling the court's decision unjust.
The unsuccessful attempt to impose martial law in the country in December 2024 faced resistance from parliament, ultimately leading to Yoon Suk-yeol's removal from office and provoking a serious political crisis in South Korea.
A total of eight criminal cases have been initiated against the former president. Earlier, in January 2026, the same court had already sentenced him to five years in prison on other charges related to using presidential security to obstruct the execution of a court order for arrest, as well as falsifying official documents and violating legal procedures for imposing martial law.
