South Korean prosecutors on Friday sought a 10-year prison sentence for former president Yoon Suk Yeol over offences linked to his short-lived declaration of martial law last year, a dramatic episode that plunged the country into its most serious political crisis in decades.
The sentencing request, made during a hearing at a Seoul court on December 26, relates to charges including obstruction of justice, stemming from Yoon’s actions before and after he imposed martial law on December 3, 2024. The declaration marked the first suspension of civilian rule in South Korea in more than 40 years and triggered mass protests, parliamentary confrontation, and months of legal and political fallout.
According to prosecutors, Yoon abused his presidential authority by bypassing constitutional procedures and deliberately excluding key Cabinet members from the meeting at which martial law was decided. Investigators allege that this exclusion was intended to prevent opposition within the Cabinet and to fast-track the declaration without proper deliberation. Prosecutors also accused Yoon of obstructing justice in January this year by ordering presidential security staff to block investigators attempting to detain him for questioning.
“The defendant undermined the constitutional order and interfered with lawful investigations for personal and political reasons,” prosecutors told the court, arguing that a lengthy prison term was necessary given the gravity of the offences and their impact on democratic governance.
Yoon’s martial law decree, announced late at night on December 3, cited unspecified threats to national security. Troops were briefly deployed around key government buildings, and emergency measures restricting political activity were announced. However, lawmakers swiftly convened an emergency session of parliament, defied security cordons, and voted overwhelmingly to nullify the declaration within hours.
Images of soldiers facing off against protesters and legislators circulated widely, igniting nationwide demonstrations. Hundreds of thousands of South Koreans took to the streets in the days that followed, accusing Yoon of attempting an unconstitutional power grab and demanding his resignation.
The crisis culminated in Yoon’s removal from office in April 2025, when the Constitutional Court unanimously upheld his impeachment. In its ruling, the court said Yoon had “gravely violated the Constitution” and posed a clear threat to democratic order.
Since then, the former president has been embroiled in multiple criminal trials. Friday’s sentencing request concerns only one of those cases. A verdict is expected next month, according to Yonhap News Agency.
In statements to the court earlier this month, Yoon defended his actions, insisting that the declaration of martial law had been justified. He claimed he was acting to counter what he described as “pro-China, pro–North Korea, and traitorous activities” within South Korea, language that has drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties and civil society groups.
Legal experts say the obstruction of justice case could carry significant penalties even without convictions in Yoon’s more serious trials. However, the former president faces far graver legal peril elsewhere. Three additional cases are currently proceeding, including charges of leading an insurrection — among the most serious crimes under South Korean law. A conviction on that charge could, in theory, carry the death penalty or life imprisonment.
Yoon’s legal troubles have further polarized South Korean politics, with his supporters portraying him as a strong leader targeted for confronting foreign influence, while critics argue his actions represented an unprecedented assault on democratic norms.
As the court prepares to rule next month, the case is being closely watched at home and abroad as a test of South Korea’s commitment to accountability at the highest levels of power — and as a stark reminder of how fragile democratic institutions can be, even in one of Asia’s most established democracies.
