Former South Korean President Yoon Sentenced to Five Years in First of Eight Criminal Trials

A South Korean court sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to five years in prison Friday—the first verdict delivered in eight separate criminal trials tied to his brief martial law declaration and other charges.

Yoon was impeached, arrested, and removed from office after imposing martial law in December 2024, a move that lasted only hours but sparked massive public protests. Friday's sentencing covered charges of defying attempts to detain him, fabricating the martial law proclamation, and bypassing a legally required full cabinet meeting.

Judge Baek Dae-hyun said "a heavy punishment" was necessary because Yoon has shown no remorse and has only repeated "hard-to-comprehend excuses."

A more consequential verdict is still ahead. The most serious criminal charge against Yoon alleges his martial law enforcement amounted to rebellion—an independent counsel has requested the death penalty. The Seoul Central District Court will rule on that charge Feb. 19.

Yoon has maintained he never intended to extend military rule, claiming the decree was meant to highlight what he called obstruction by the liberal-controlled parliament. Investigators rejected that explanation, charging him with rebellion and abuse of power.

Legal experts say the death penalty is unlikely. South Korea has maintained a de facto moratorium on executions since 1997, and courts rarely issue such sentences. Park Sungbae, a criminal law specialist, said the court will likely consider that Yoon's decree caused no casualties and was short-lived, though his lack of remorse won't help his case. A life sentence or 30-plus years is more probable.

Yoon's defense team plans to appeal, calling the ruling "politicized." South Korea has a history of eventually pardoning jailed former presidents in the name of national unity.