South Korea’s former president sentenced to five years in prison for martial law order in 2024

Published January 16, 2026 2:46am ET



Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was sentenced to five years in prison over his declaration of martial law in the country while he was president on Dec. 3, 2024. 

Yoon was found guilty by South Korea’s Seoul Central District Court on numerous charges from his martial law decision, including the fabrication of official documents, failure to comply with the required legal process for martial law, and the obstruction of “attempts to arrest him following his failed bid to impose martial law,” according to Reuters.

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