Ex-South Korean president gets 5 years for botched martial law

International

“THE accused has the duty to safeguard the constitution and law but turned his back on them”—words that accompanied a five-year prison sentence for former president Yoon Suk Yeol on Friday, following his aborted attempt to impose martial law in 2024.

The ruling addresses charges of abuse of power, obstruction of justice, and falsification of documents, and marks the first verdict in a series of four criminal trials stemming from the short-lived decree that plunged South Korea into political turmoil.

Yoon’s declaration of martial law had triggered nationwide protests and a rapid response from lawmakers who rushed to overturn the decision.

In Friday’s ruling, the court found Yoon guilty of ordering presidential bodyguards to block his arrest, failing to consult the full cabinet before declaring martial law, and drafting and then destroying a falsified document claiming that the prime minister and defence minister had approved the action.

“The accused has the duty to safeguard the constitution and law but turned his back on them,” the judge said, noting that Yoon had “consistently shown no remorse.”

Prosecutors had sought a 10-year prison term for the charges included in this ruling. Both sides have seven days to appeal.

Yoon has denied all allegations, arguing that the arrest warrant was invalid and that the law does not require consulting every cabinet member before invoking emergency powers. He has also maintained that investigators lacked the legal grounds to detain him and that no procedural violations occurred during his martial law declaration.

Friday’s verdict is viewed as an early indicator of how the remaining cases against Yoon could unfold. He faces charges ranging from abuse of authority to campaign law violations, with the most serious being insurrection, a charge for which prosecutors have requested the death penalty. The verdict in that case is expected in February.

Outside the courthouse, roughly 100 Yoon supporters gathered to watch the proceedings on a large screen, the BBC reported. Some waved red banners reading, “Yoon, again! Make Korea great again,” while others shouted at the judge or stood silently.

South Korean courts sometimes reduce sentences if defendants admit guilt or show contrition. Prosecutors have argued that Yoon’s refusal to accept responsibility warrants a stricter punishment.

The last former president jailed for criminal charges was Park Geun-hye, who received a 20-year sentence in 2021 for abuse of power and bribery before being pardoned and released.

Yoon’s trials have revived political tensions in the country, despite opposition leader Lee Jae Myung’s landslide election victory six months after the failed martial law attempt.

While tens of thousands protested Yoon’s actions in 2024, his supporters have continued staging smaller counter-demonstrations, viewing him as a political martyr.

A December survey found that nearly 30% of South Koreans did not consider Yoon’s martial law attempt to qualify as insurrection, highlighting enduring divisions over his legacy.(MyTVCebu)