South Korea’s former president, Yoon Suk Yeol, has been sentenced to five years in prison after a court found him guilty of obstruction of justice.
In a ruling delivered on Friday, the Seoul Central District Court held that the 65-year-old conservative leader, with the support of the presidential security service, attempted to block his arrest and ordered the deletion of key documents linked to investigations against him.
Yoon’s downfall followed a dramatic episode on December 3, 2024, when he declared martial law amid an intense budget standoff with the opposition — a move that shocked the nation and plunged South Korea into a deep political crisis.
He defended the decision as necessary to protect the country’s democratic order, accusing the left-leaning opposition of communist infiltration with alleged ties to China and North Korea — claims for which no evidence was provided.
In a separate and more serious case, prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Yoon on charges of incitement, with a verdict expected on February 19. While capital punishment remains legal in South Korea, it has not been carried out in nearly 30 years.
Yoon’s actions had earlier rattled international investors, leading to withheld investments and damaging South Korea’s reputation as a stable political and economic hub in the region.
Since last summer, the country has been led by President Lee Jae Myung, a left-leaning centrist and longtime political rival of Yoon.
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