SEOUL: South Korea’s Supreme Court on Thursday upheld a seven-year prison sentence for former President Yoon Suk Yeol, rejecting his appeal over charges linked to obstructing authorities attempting to arrest him following his 2024 martial law declaration.
The ruling affirms an earlier decision by the Seoul High Court, which increased Yoon’s sentence from five years to seven years in April after convicting him on additional charges.
Why Was Yoon Suk Yeol Convicted?
The Supreme Court ruled that there were no legal errors in the lower court’s judgment.
It upheld findings that Yoon obstructed law enforcement efforts, fabricated official documents, failed to follow the constitutional process required to impose martial law, and spread false information to foreign media.
The court noted that South Korean law requires any declaration of martial law to be formally discussed and approved during a cabinet meeting.
How Has Yoon Responded?
Following the verdict, Yoon’s legal team announced plans to challenge the ruling before the Constitutional Court.
His lawyers said they would pursue constitutional review procedures, including filing a constitutional complaint.
What Charges Does Yoon Still Face?
Prosecutors had sought a 10-year prison sentence, arguing that Yoon abused his presidential powers and undermined public trust.
The former president, who is 65 years old, was separately sentenced to life imprisonment in February after being convicted of masterminding an insurrection linked to his declaration of martial law.
Yoon has remained in custody since July 2025 and is currently facing seven additional criminal trials related to his time in office.