Overview
- Seoul Central District Court imposed a five-year prison term for offenses tied to the martial-law decree and defying arrest attempts, half of the 10 years prosecutors had sought.
- This verdict is the first conviction across eight criminal cases stemming from the December 2024 episode, and Yoon has seven days to appeal.
- The court said Yoon abused presidential power by using the Presidential Security Service to obstruct a lawful warrant and sideline cabinet members, calling his culpability extremely grave.
- Prosecutors have charged him with leading a rebellion in a separate case that allows capital punishment, and they have formally requested the death penalty.
- Sentences for other senior officials are pending, including former prime minister Han Duck Soo and a former defense minister for whom prosecutors are seeking life imprisonment.