A South Korean appeals court on Wednesday increased former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s sentence in a justice obstruction case from five years to seven years.
In January a lower court sentenced Yoon to five years for abuse of power, including using presidential security agents to block his arrest and related charges. In the separate trial over his abrupt 2024 declaration of martial law, Yoon was earlier handed a life sentence for leading an insurrection.
The appeals court upheld the initial convictions and overturned some acquittals, linking the charges to his short-lived 2024 martial law. Prosecutors had sought a 10-year term. “In trying to stop authorities from executing an arrest warrant by use of force, Yoon committed acts that are unacceptable in a society of law and order,” a Seoul High Court judge said. Yoon may still appeal to the Supreme Court.
The January ruling found Yoon guilty of:
– Failing to follow due process before declaring martial law
– Fabricating official documents related to the declaration
– Destroying potential criminal evidence by wiping official phone data
– Obstructing authorities from executing an arrest warrant
Yoon’s life sentence stems from his December 2024 late-night televised address in which he declared the suspension of civilian rule and imposed martial law. The measure lasted about six hours before lawmakers rushed to the assembly, held an emergency session and voted it down. Yoon said his actions aimed to restore democratic order amid what he described as a siege by the opposition and “anti-state” forces. His move came after his People Power Party lost its parliamentary majority earlier that year.
Separately, Yoon’s wife, former first lady Kim Keon Hee, received an increased jail sentence earlier this week on unrelated corruption charges. Yoon faces eight trials connected to his time in office and denies wrongdoing. Edited by: Alex Berry