Former President Yoon Suk‑yeol Sentenced to Five Years for Martial‑Law Obstruction
Updated (4 articles)
Court Verdict and Five‑Year Sentence The Seoul Central District Court handed former President Yoon Suk‑yeol a five‑year prison term on 16 January 2026. The conviction stems from his 2024 attempt to impose martial law and related misconduct. The sentence is roughly half of the term prosecutors requested. The ruling marks the first verdict among eight criminal trials linked to the martial‑law episode. [1][2][3][4]
Obstruction of Detention Using Presidential Security Service The court found Yoon ordered the Presidential Security Service to block investigators from detaining him at the Blue House in January 2025. Judges described this as effectively privatizing the armed forces for his personal safety. The judge condemned the act as a severe breach of public trust. Prosecutors had framed the obstruction as a grave crime. [1][2][4]
Cabinet Rights Violations and Document Tampering Yoon was convicted of depriving nine cabinet members of their right to review the martial‑law plan, though two members were exempted in the verdict. He drafted a revised proclamation after the decree was lifted, then destroyed it, and issued false press statements about the decree’s legitimacy. He also ordered deletion of records from secure phones used by military commanders. The judge noted Yoon showed no remorse. [1][2][3][4]
Authority of Investigation Office and Pending Insurrection Verdict The court affirmed that the Corruption Investigation Office for High‑ranking Officials acted within its authority when issuing detention warrants. A separate insurrection charge will be decided on 19 February 2026, with prosecutors having sought the death penalty. The outcome will affect Yoon’s standing in the broader set of trials. [2][3][4]
Appeal Plans, Public Reaction, and Ongoing Trials Yoon’s legal team announced an appeal, arguing the decision blurs presidential authority limits. Both prosecution and defense have a seven‑day window to file appeals. Approximately 100 supporters gathered outside the courthouse to watch the livestream, while the trial continues to be broadcast live alongside seven other related cases. [1][4]
Sources
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1.
Yonhap: Ex‑President Yoon Suk Yeol sentenced to five years in prison: Details the five‑year sentence, judge’s claim of armed‑force privatization, sentencing at half the prosecutors’ request, planned appeal, and upcoming insurrection verdict.
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2.
Yonhap: Former president Yoon Suk Yeol sentenced to five years in prison for obstruction of justice and related charges: Emphasizes obstruction of detention, PSS involvement, cabinet‑rights violations, mitigating factors, and the Feb 19 insurrection decision date.
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3.
Yonhap: Former President Yoon Suk Yeol sentenced to five years in prison on Jan 16 over martial law charges: Highlights guilty verdict on most counts, agency authority affirmation, death‑penalty demand for insurrection, and live‑broadcast context among eight trials.
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4.
BBC: South Korea ex‑president Yoon Suk Yeol jailed for five years over martial law bid: Focuses on abuse of power, bodyguard shield, falsified documents, prosecutors’ 10‑year request, seven‑day appeal window, and public supporters watching the livestream.
Timeline
2021 – Former President Park Geun‑hye is jailed for abuse of power and bribery, then pardoned and released shortly after, establishing a precedent for prosecuting ex‑leaders in South Korea [1].
Dec 2024 – President Yoon Suk Yeol declares a short‑lived martial‑law decree without full cabinet consultation, uses presidential bodyguards to shield himself from arrest, and drafts a falsified document claiming endorsement by the prime minister and defence minister, actions later judged as abuse of power and obstruction of justice [1].
Jan 16, 2026 – Seoul Central District Court sentences Yoon to five years in prison for obstructing investigators’ attempt to detain him, finding he “effectively privatized the armed forces through the Presidential Security Service” and convicting him on most martial‑law‑related charges while noting his lack of remorse [2][3].
Jan 16, 2026 – The court rules that the Corruption Investigation Office for High‑ranking Officials acted within its authority in issuing detention warrants and grants both prosecution and defense a seven‑day window to file appeals, shaping the procedural path for the remaining trials [1][4].
Jan 16, 2026 – About 100 supporters gather outside the courthouse, watching the livestream on a large screen and displaying banners of support as the verdict is delivered, reflecting continued public polarization [1].
Jan 16, 2026 – Yoon’s lawyers announce they will appeal the verdict, arguing the decision oversimplifies the boundary between presidential authority and criminal liability, while prosecutors had originally sought a ten‑year term and a death‑penalty‑type sanction for a separate insurrection charge [2][4].
Feb 19, 2026 (scheduled) – A separate court is set to deliver the verdict on the insurrection charge tied to the December 2024 martial‑law decree, with prosecutors having previously demanded the death penalty, a decision that will further determine Yoon’s legal fate [3][4].