Ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol Sentenced to 5 Years Over Martial Law Obstruction

A South Korean court on Friday, January 16, 2026, sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to five years in prison. The verdict is the first judicial ruling in a series of cases related to his failed attempt to impose martial law in December 2024.

The Seoul Central District Court convicted Yoon of several charges, including abuse of power, falsifying official documents, and obstruction of justice.

The court found that Yoon mobilized the Presidential Security Service to block investigators from executing a lawful arrest warrant against him in early 2025.

Additionally, the judges ruled that he bypassed constitutional requirements by failing to hold a proper cabinet meeting before declaring military rule, selectively summoning only loyal ministers to rubber-stamp the decree.

In a televised ruling, Judge Baek Dae-hyun stated that Yoon “disregarded the constitution” and “privatized” state security forces for his personal protection. The judge noted that a heavy sentence was necessary as Yoon had shown no remorse, offering only “hard-to-comprehend excuses” for his actions.

Yoon, who was formally removed from office in April 2025 following a unanimous impeachment uphold by the Constitutional Court, now faces an even more severe legal threat. While this five-year sentence covers obstruction and procedural violations, a separate insurrection trial is ongoing.

In that case, prosecutors have requested the death penalty, accusing Yoon of being the ringleader of a rebellion aimed at paralyzing the legislature and seizing total control of the state.

On December 3, 2024, Yoon declared martial law, which lasted only six hours before being overturned by a parliamentary vote.

Yoon became the first sitting president in South Korean history to be taken into custody after a massive police operation involving 3,000 officers. Following his ouster, opposition leader Lee Jae-myung was elected president in June 2025.

Yoon’s legal team has labeled the verdict “politicized” and announced immediate plans to appeal. The verdict for the separate insurrection case is expected to be delivered on February 19, 2026.