South Korea's Former President Yoon Suk Yeol Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Abusing Power and Mobilizing Security Forces to Block Arrest.
In a landmark judicial ruling, a Seoul central district court has sentenced former president Yoon Suk Yeol to five years in prison for his role in declaring martial law last December. The verdict marks the first time a South Korean court has linked to the events surrounding this failed declaration.
Yoon declared martial law late on 3 December 2024, dispatching police and armed troops to the national assembly in an attempt to override lawmakers who were rushing to lift the order. However, he backed down six hours later after emergency rule was put into effect.
Prosecutors have alleged that Yoon attempted to use military force to paralyse the legislature, arrest political opponents, and seize control of the national election commission. In the separate insurrection case, where prosecutors are seeking either life imprisonment or the death penalty, a verdict is set for 20 February.
The court has found Yoon guilty of special obstruction of official duties, abuse of power, and falsifying documents. The presiding judge stated that Yoon "deserves condemnation" for his actions, describing them as "extremely serious in nature."
In his televised ruling, the judge criticized Yoon's conduct in the run-up to martial law declaration. He selectively summoned only loyal cabinet members to a late-night meeting, excluding nine others and rubber-stamping the decision without meaningful deliberation.
Yoon faces seven additional criminal trials, including this conviction, where prosecutors are seeking harsh penalties for his alleged crimes. His wife, Kim Keon Hee, is also facing a separate verdict on 28 January on stock manipulation and bribery charges, carrying a prosecutorial demand of 15 years' imprisonment and a 2bn won fine.
The court's decision marks the opening act in a reckoning without parallel in South Korea's democratic history.
In a landmark judicial ruling, a Seoul central district court has sentenced former president Yoon Suk Yeol to five years in prison for his role in declaring martial law last December. The verdict marks the first time a South Korean court has linked to the events surrounding this failed declaration.
Yoon declared martial law late on 3 December 2024, dispatching police and armed troops to the national assembly in an attempt to override lawmakers who were rushing to lift the order. However, he backed down six hours later after emergency rule was put into effect.
Prosecutors have alleged that Yoon attempted to use military force to paralyse the legislature, arrest political opponents, and seize control of the national election commission. In the separate insurrection case, where prosecutors are seeking either life imprisonment or the death penalty, a verdict is set for 20 February.
The court has found Yoon guilty of special obstruction of official duties, abuse of power, and falsifying documents. The presiding judge stated that Yoon "deserves condemnation" for his actions, describing them as "extremely serious in nature."
In his televised ruling, the judge criticized Yoon's conduct in the run-up to martial law declaration. He selectively summoned only loyal cabinet members to a late-night meeting, excluding nine others and rubber-stamping the decision without meaningful deliberation.
Yoon faces seven additional criminal trials, including this conviction, where prosecutors are seeking harsh penalties for his alleged crimes. His wife, Kim Keon Hee, is also facing a separate verdict on 28 January on stock manipulation and bribery charges, carrying a prosecutorial demand of 15 years' imprisonment and a 2bn won fine.
The court's decision marks the opening act in a reckoning without parallel in South Korea's democratic history.
I think he's setting a bad precedent for future politicians who would wanna abuse power...this 5 year sentence should've been longer imo 
martial law is just one of those things that can never be allowed in a democratic country. The fact that his own wife is facing similar charges kinda makes you wonder if this was all some sort of coordinated effort 
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. like whats next? u think there r gonna be protests or somethin' 
. anywayz i feel bad for his wife Kim Keon Hee she's facin a pretty harsh trial herself 
. but honestly it's about time someone held yoon accountable 4 his actions 
. i mean the court was right to condemn him & his lack of democracy was real 
. cant wait 2 see how this all plays out 
Five years in prison is a huge sentence for someone who was essentially trying to take control of the country but clearly didn't think through the consequences. I mean, you declare martial law and try to block lawmakers from doing their job? 
The fact that he selectively summoned only loyal cabinet members to his late-night meeting and rubber-stamped the decision without meaningful deliberation is just crazy. It's a good thing the court spoke out against him. 
this verdict is long overdue imo, it shows that justice can still be served even after someone has left office 
. The fact that he was able to declare martial law in the first place is a stark reminder of the need for checks and balances in our systems 
. It'll be interesting to see how this verdict affects the upcoming trials against his wife, Kim Keon Hee 
but apparently that's nt okay nd he got found guilty of all sorts of stuf 
anyway, i think this is kinda big deal 4 south korea cuz it shows that even ppl in power cn b held accountable 
. I mean, I know we're supposed to be living in a democracy and all that, but it seems like there were some major red flags waving at this whole thing... not to mention the fact that his wife is facing serious charges too 
. This whole thing reeks of corruption and abuse of power. And now Yoon's going down for 5 years? That's gotta be a setup or something...
. 5 yrs in prison seems like a lot, im not saying he's innocent or anything but... isnt it fair to give him a chance 2 explain himself before passing judgment? 
also wut about his wife kim keon hee? shes gettin a way harsh punishment, if u ask me 
. still, can't help but wonder what other skeletons will come out of this trial...
. And can you believe he tried to use military force to control the government? 
. I'm also really worried about his wife, she's facing some serious charges too 
. I hope she gets a fair trial and that justice is served 
. This whole thing is giving me major flashbacks to our school's student council elections when we had to deal with all the drama 
. At least our school doesn't have a president who can declare martial law 
. Anyway, I'm glad this court case is bringing accountability to those in power 
but it's about time they're held accountable for their actions, 5 years might be too lenient for yoon though 
I feel so sorry for Yoon Suk Yeol's family... his wife is already going through a tough time with her own charges, now her husband is getting 5 years in prison 
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The notion that a former president was deemed guilty of abusing power and attempting to circumvent the law highlights the need for robust checks and balances in governance, ensuring that such incidents do not recur in the future. 
. And now, 5 years in prison? Maybe it's a good lesson for him and others who think they can abuse their powers 
. Will it be seen as fair or just another way to silence opposition? Can we trust that the justice system is truly independent now?