Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol Sentenced: What’s Next for His Political Future?

Yoon Suk Yeol's Legal Troubles Intensify

Seoul: A South Korean court has handed down a five-year prison sentence to former President Yoon Suk Yeol, marking the first verdict in a series of eight criminal trials linked to his controversial martial law declaration that led to his removal from office.

Yoon faced impeachment, arrest, and dismissal following his brief imposition of martial law in December 2024, which sparked widespread protests demanding his resignation.

The most serious accusation against him claims that his actions during the martial law period constituted rebellion, with the independent counsel seeking the death penalty in a forthcoming ruling next month.

In the recent ruling, the Seoul Central District Court found Yoon guilty of resisting detention efforts, fabricating the martial law declaration, and bypassing a legally required full Cabinet meeting.

Yoon has insisted that he never intended to impose military rule for an extended duration, arguing that his decree was merely to alert the public about the threats posed by a liberal-dominated parliament obstructing his policies. However, investigators have interpreted his actions as an attempt to extend his authority, leading to charges of rebellion and abuse of power.

Judge Baek Dae-hyun emphasized the necessity of imposing a "grave punishment," citing Yoon's lack of remorse and his reliance on "hard-to-understand excuses." The judge also noted the importance of restoring the legal systems that Yoon's actions had undermined.

While Yoon has the option to appeal the decision, he has not yet publicly commented on the ruling. His defense team criticized the independent counsel's request for a 10-year sentence as politically motivated and lacking legal justification.

The outcomes of Yoon's other smaller trials will be significant if he avoids the death penalty or life imprisonment in the rebellion case.

Legal expert Park SungBae expressed skepticism about the likelihood of the court imposing the death penalty, suggesting that a life sentence or a term of 30 years or more is more probable. He noted that South Korea has effectively maintained a moratorium on executions since 1997, with death sentences being rare. Park also mentioned that the court would likely consider the fact that Yoon's decree did not result in any casualties and was short-lived, despite his failure to show genuine remorse.