Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol received a 30-year prison sentence on Friday. The Seoul Central District Court issued this verdict, finding him guilty of ordering drone flights over North Korea. These actions aimed to justify his declaration of martial law.
Alongside Yoon, former Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun was sentenced. Previously, Yoon faced a life sentence for leading an insurrection in December 2024 after declaring martial law.
In October 2024, North Korea accused South Korea of deploying drones over Pyongyang to drop propaganda leaflets. This accusation came amid heightened tensions, but no military clashes occurred.
South Korean lawmakers supported suspending President Yoon’s powers following his brief martial law declaration.
The former president’s trial included instances where he addressed the Constitutional Court. He accused liberal lawmakers of sympathizing with North Korea. He also claimed his martial law declaration aimed to highlight alleged obstruction by opposition parties.
The martial law declaration lasted about six hours. It ended after lawmakers voted to overturn it amid widespread public protests. Yoon was arrested in July 2025 and faces ongoing criminal proceedings.
The insurrection case is under appeal by both Yoon and prosecutors. Prosecutors initially sought the death penalty.
Yoon’s supporters demonstrated outside the Seoul High Court, expressing their disapproval of the court’s decisions.
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