South Korea's Former President Has Been Sentenced
7- 16.01.2026, 10:49
- 4,338
Prosecutors demanded the death penalty.
South Korea's former president Young Seok-yeol has been convicted. He was found guilty of obstruction of justice and falsifying documents in an attempt to seize power.
According to Reuters.
On Friday, January 16, the Seoul District Court announced the first sentence for former president Yun Seok-yeol, imposing a five-year prison term.
The main charge was obstructing law enforcers from executing a warrant for his arrest after the high-profile events of December 2024.
What exactly he was found guilty of
The judge confirmed that the former head of state knowingly obstructed law enforcers from carrying out their duties. In addition to obstruction of justice, the case recorded a number of other grave violations:
Falsification of official documents that were being prepared to legalize martial law.
Ignoring court requirements mandatory for the imposition of a special legal regime.
Abuse of power in an attempt to impose martial law last December.
This court ruling is the first criminal conviction in a series of cases related to Yun's failed attempt to retain power by force. However, the case is not over yet as the defense has the right to appeal the verdict.
Prosecutors demanded the death penalty
In the final hearing at the Seoul Central Court, the prosecution pushed for the harshest punishment, the death penalty. Special prosecutor Cho Eun-suk called Yoon Seok-yeol a "rebel ringleader" who tried to usurp power by taking control of the judicial and legislative branches.
A coup attempt in December 2024 failed: the military failed to block parliament due to massive resistance from citizens, and after only six hours the president was forced to lift martial law.
After the fiasco, Yoon resigned under impeachment pressure and was subsequently arrested on suspicion of treason. The detention process was accompanied by clashes as the ex-president's guards resisted law enforcers.
Despite being temporarily released on bail in March, he was sent back into custody as early as July 2025. In addition to sedition, Yoon is charged with aiding a hostile state, in particular likely collaboration with the DPRK regime.
Remember, the special prosecutor's team insisted on a 10-year prison sentence.
The indictment states that the former president committed a "grave crime" by actually using state institutions to cover up and justify his own actions.
The trial of Yun Seok-yeol became only the third case in the history of South Korea, when the announcement of the sentence of the former head of state was broadcast live. The former president is now the subject of eight criminal proceedings.
In addition to the coup attempt case, he is charged with a number of corruption episodes, as well as accused of involvement in the tragic death of a marine, which occurred in 2023.
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