The Seoul Central District Court on Friday sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to a five-year prison term for multiple charges, including obstruction of 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.
"A heavy sentence is necessary, as the nature of the defendant's crime is bad and the defendant continues to make excuses that are difficult to understand, without showing any remorse," said sitting Judge Baek Dae-hyun during the sentencing.
Obstructing arrest
Following Yoon’s martial law declaration, officials of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials attempted to arrest him in January 2025. Yoon subsequently mobilized the Presidential Security Service and police to block access to his residence, thwarting the initial arres
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