Former South Korean President Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison

On May 12, 2025, former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol appeared at the Seoul Central District Court. He and his former defense minister, Kim Yong Hyun, received a 30-year prison sentence for actions that included ordering drone flights over Pyongyang in 2024. These flights aimed to escalate tensions with North Korea and potentially justify martial law in South Korea.

The court accused Yoon of aiding adversaries and misusing power. His actions allegedly planned to provoke North Korea into attacks, which could have created a national emergency. This situation was said to have negatively affected South Korea’s military capabilities by revealing its operational secrets, which led North Korea to enhance its defense strategies.

Before this sentence, Yoon was already serving a life sentence for instigating martial law in December 2024. At that time, North Korea claimed that South Korea flew drones over its capital, dropping propaganda in October 2024. Kim, then the defense minister, provided a noncommittal response to these claims, which the Defense Ministry neither confirmed nor denied.

The situation caused increased tensions, but no direct military engagement followed. Yoon’s defense criticized the verdict, stating the drone flights reacted to previous provocations from North Korea. They cautioned that this ruling might weaken South Korea’s security interests, yet they did not specify if they would appeal.

Led by special prosecutor Cho Eun-suk, the investigation sought a 30-year sentence for Yoon. Accusations included trying to manipulate a wartime scenario with North Korea to marginalize political foes and consolidate power. Kim Yong Hyun faced a proposed 25-year sentence as a principal advisor in declaring martial law.

Martial law was briefly implemented on December 3, 2024. Yoon’s late-night address accused political opponents of sympathizing with North Korea and noted reasons like official impeachments and budget cuts. The situation lasted about six hours until lawmakers interrupted forces at the National Assembly to reverse it, leading to Yoon’s suspension. Removed from office, he was arrested in July 2025, and several trials are still in process. The most severe conviction for rebellion has been appealed by both Yoon and the prosecution, which seeks a harsher penalty.