January 16, 2026
SEOUL – The Seoul Central District Court on Friday sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to a five-year prison term for obstructing investigators’ attempt to detain him last year, marking the first verdict on cases stemming from his 2024 failed declaration of martial law.
Special counsel Cho Eun-suk had sought a combined sentence of 10 years for Yoon, including five years for resisting arrest, two years for revising the martial law decree after the fact and three years for infringing on Cabinet members’ deliberation rights, spreading false information to foreign media and destroying evidence.
In the aftermath of Yoon’s 2024 martial law decree, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials attempted to arrest Yoon in January 2025. Yoon then mobilized the Presidential Security Service and the police force to blockade his residence.
Yoon claimed that the CIO lacked the jurisdiction to investigate charges of insurrection. The court, however, ruled that the CIO acted under valid warrant for search and arrest.
Friday’s ruling is expected to serve as a precedent on the legality of the initial probe into Yoon’s alleged insurrection.
Aside from Friday’s sentence, Yoon faces seven more trials, with the next sentencing on Yoon’s insurrection charge scheduled for Feb. 19.