Former South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol sentenced to five years in prison

A court in South Korea sentenced former President Yoon Seok-yeol to five years in prison after finding him guilty of illegally declaring martial law on December 3, 2024, AP reports.

The court also found Yoon guilty of forging an official document related to the declaration of martial law, destroying evidence and obstructing his arrest after that step. The ex-president’s lawyer announced his intention to appeal the verdict.

This is the first sentence passed against the ex-president of South Korea: in total, he is involved in eight criminal cases. The most serious charge is sedition in connection with the declaration of martial law, a crime that carries up to the death penalty in South Korea.

Recall that on January 13, a special prosecutor’s team recommended that the court impose the death penalty on former South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol in the sedition case.

In December, the special prosecutor demanded that Yoon Seok Yeol be sentenced to 10 years in prison in connection with charges of obstructing the work of law enforcement officers (including attempts to detain Yoon after the events surrounding the introduction of martial law).

The Criminal Code of the Republic of Korea provides for three types of punishment for organizing a rebellion for the leader of the conspirators: death penalty, life imprisonment, life imprisonment without forced labor. The death penalty has not been used in the Republic of Korea since 1997.

On December 3, 2024, Yoon Seok Yeol announced the introduction of martial law in the country. Then, in a televised address to the people, the head of state accused the opposition of trying to undermine the constitutional order, with the help of North Korea and using control over parliament. On December 14, the parliament impeached Yoon Seok Yeol. On December 31, the Seoul Western District Court, at the request of investigators, issued an arrest warrant for Yoon Seok Yeol in the case of martial law and attempted rebellion. On January 15, the president, accused of rebellion, was arrested. On March 7, he was released from custody. On April 4, the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Korea unanimously confirmed the impeachment of President Yoon Seok-yeol. Lawsuits are ongoing against the ex-president.