Seoul, January 16, 2026 – A South Korean court on Friday sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to five years in prison on charges including obstruction of justice, abuse of power, and related offenses stemming from his short-lived declaration of martial law in December 2024. The ruling, delivered by the Seoul Central District Court, marks the first verdict in a series of eight ongoing criminal trials against the impeached and dismissed leader, whose actions plunged the nation into political turmoil and led to his removal from office.
The three-judge panel, led by Judge Baek Dae-hyun, found Yoon guilty of unlawfully mobilizing the Presidential Security Service (PSS) to block investigators from executing a court-issued arrest warrant in January 2025, effectively turning state institutions into "personal guards" for his protection. The court also convicted him of violating the constitutional rights of nine Cabinet members by failing to convene a full meeting to deliberate on the martial law decree, fabricating and altering official documents to retroactively justify the proclamation, and ordering the destruction or deletion of evidence, including data from secure government phones used by military and civilian collaborators.
In a televised ruling broadcast live across the country, Judge Baek emphasized the severity of the offenses, stating that Yoon, as head of state, had a heightened duty to uphold the Constitution and consult all Cabinet members fully. Instead, he acted in an "unprecedented manner" by selectively notifying only a few, infringing on their deliberation rights and abusing his authority. The judge noted Yoon's lack of remorse, repeated justifications for his actions, and the need to restore damaged legal order through a "grave punishment."
The five-year sentence is half of the 10-year term prosecutors, led by Special Counsel Cho Eun-suk, had demanded last month. The prosecution team described Yoon's conduct as a "grave crime" involving the "privatization" of state institutions to conceal and legitimize his alleged wrongdoing, arguing that his actions seriously undermined law and order and inflicted lasting wounds on public trust.
The case stems directly from the chaotic events of December 3, 2024, when Yoon abruptly declared martial law in a late-night televised address, citing obstruction by the opposition-controlled National Assembly. The decree, which suspended civilian rule and aimed to halt parliamentary activities, lasted only about six hours before 190 lawmakers defied military blockades to convene and unanimously vote it down. Yoon lifted the order shortly after, but the episode triggered massive protests, his impeachment by parliament on December 14, 2024, and formal removal from office by the Constitutional Court in April 2025.
Yoon's legal battles began intensifying in early 2025. He was first arrested and indicted in January 2025 on insurrection charges, becoming the first sitting South Korean president to be taken into custody. Released on bail in March, he was rearrested in July 2025 and has remained detained at the Seoul Detention Center on the outskirts of the capital ever since. A court extended his detention warrant for another six months in early January 2026 to ensure the ongoing trials proceed without interference.
This Friday's conviction covers one of four trials specifically linked to the martial law declaration, including obstruction of arrest, abuse of power in Cabinet proceedings, falsification of documents, and evidence tampering. Prosecutors in a separate, high-profile insurrection trial—where they recently demanded the death penalty or life imprisonment—have accused Yoon of masterminding a rebellion to seize control of the judiciary and legislature and maintain power indefinitely. A verdict in that case is scheduled for February 19, 2026.
Yoon faces a total of eight criminal trials, encompassing not only the martial law episode but also allegations related to his wife's suspected corruption, his intervention in a 2023 marine officer death investigation, and other matters such as appointing former Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup as ambassador to Australia to evade scrutiny.
Throughout the proceedings, Yoon has maintained his innocence, insisting that the martial law declaration was a legitimate, short-term measure to alert the public to parliamentary obstruction of government functions and that it fell within presidential powers. His defense has criticized the prosecutions as politically motivated and excessive.
The sentencing drew polarized reactions. Supporters, including far-right groups, gathered outside the Seoul Central District Court waving South Korean and American flags, chanting slogans in Yoon's defense and denouncing the proceedings as a "witch hunt." Some watched the live broadcast on large screens at Seoul Station. Critics and opposition figures hailed the verdict as a step toward accountability and restoring democratic norms.
South Korea has a history of holding former presidents accountable, with predecessors like Park Geun-hye and Lee Myung-bak imprisoned on corruption charges. Yoon's case, however, stands out due to the gravity of insurrection allegations and the unprecedented nature of a martial law attempt in modern democratic South Korea.
As Yoon begins serving his sentence—pending any appeals—the nation's attention turns to the remaining trials, particularly the insurrection case, which could have profound implications for the country's political future and rule of law.
