A South Korean court has sentenced former President Yoon Seok-yeol to five years in prison, marking a major moment in the country’s political history.
The ruling came on Friday from the Seoul Central District Court. The court found Yoon guilty on several charges, including blocking investigators who tried to detain him in January of last year.
This decision is the first court ruling connected to Yoon’s failed attempt to impose martial law in December 2024, an event that shocked the country and triggered a long legal and political crisis.
Just days before the verdict, prosecutors took an even tougher stance. Last Tuesday, the public prosecutor’s office called for the death penalty, accusing the former president of leading a rebellion. Prosecutors argued that Yoon tried to hold on to power by taking control of both the courts and the parliament.
In simple terms, the court has now delivered its first judgment in a case that began with a dramatic and controversial attempt to use military rule. While the prison sentence is severe, the legal battle around Yoon’s actions may not be over yet.
