Martial Law Bid Lands South Korea’s Ex-President Yoon in Five-Year Jail Term

A South Korean court on Friday sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to five years in prison for abuse of power, obstructing justice, and falsifying documents related to his short lived declaration of martial law in December 2024.

The ruling, handed down by the Seoul Central District Court, marks the first verdict in a series of four ongoing trials stemming from the controversial move that plunged the nation into political chaos, triggered massive street protests, and ultimately led to Yoon’s impeachment and removal from office.

The presiding judge stated that Yoon’s actions “plunged the country into political crisis” and noted that the former president had “consistently shown no remorse” throughout the proceedings. The court found Yoon guilty of:

• Deploying presidential bodyguards to block his own arrest
• Failing to consult his full cabinet before imposing martial law
• Drafting and then destroying a falsified document falsely claiming that the prime minister and defence minister had endorsed the decree

Prosecutors had sought a 10-year prison term for these charges. Both the prosecution and defence have seven days to file an appeal.

Yoon, who appeared in court via video link, denied all wrongdoing. He maintained that the arrest warrant against him was invalid, that the law does not require consultation with every cabinet member for emergency powers, and that investigators lacked legal grounds to pursue the case. He has repeatedly argued that no procedural violations occurred during the martial law declaration.

Friday’s verdict offers an early indication of the judicial tone in the remaining trials. The most serious charge Yoon faces an insurrection count, for which prosecutors are demanding the death penalty. A verdict in that case is expected in February.

The courtroom scene outside the courthouse reflected the country’s deep political divide. Approximately 100 Yoon supporters gathered to watch a livestream of the proceedings projected on a large screen. Some waved red banners reading “Yoon, again! Make Korea great again”, while others shouted at the judge during the delivery of the guilty verdicts. Others stood in silence. 

Yoon’s conviction comes six months after South Korean voters delivered a decisive victory to opposition leader Lee Jae - myung in the presidential election that followed Yoon’s ouster.

The case draws comparisons to the imprisonment of former President Park Geun-hye, who was sentenced to 20 years for abuse of power and bribery in 2018 before receiving a pardon and early release. Prosecutors have argued that Yoon’s persistent refusal to accept responsibility justifies a harsher penalty.

Public opinion remains sharply split. A December 2025 survey found that nearly 30% of South Koreans do not consider Yoon’s martial law declaration an act of insurrection, a view strongly held among his core supporters who continue to portray him as a political martyr.

The trials are expected to keep South Korea’s political divisions in the international spotlight for months to come as the country grapples with the legacy of one of the most dramatic constitutional crises in its modern democratic history.