Yoon Suk Yeol 5-year jail term: First sentencing in South Korea martial law case

The courtroom was silent as the verdict was read. On January 16, 2026, the Seoul Central District Court sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to five years in prison. This marks the first judicial ruling against the former leader since his failed attempt to impose martial law in late 2024 plunged the nation into a constitutional crisis.

Yoon Suk Yeol 5-year jail term: Breaking down the legal charges

A three-justice panel found Yoon Suk Yeol guilty of multiple charges, including obstruction of justice and document falsification. According to the court ruling, Yoon abused his presidential power to block a legitimate arrest warrant requested by the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) on January 3, 2025. He also tampered with official documents to make his unconstitutional martial law declaration appear procedurally correct.

Yoon's defense team, led by lawyer Yoo Jung-Hwa, immediately dismissed the ruling as "politicized" and announced plans to appeal. However, the prosecution argued that Yoon's actions directly violated the Constitution by bypassing the cabinet and ordering troops to blockade the National Assembly.

Timeline of a political saga

While this five-year sentence is significant, Yoon faces even greater legal peril. He has been indicted in four criminal cases in total. Most notably, prosecutors are seeking the death penalty in a separate insurrection trial, with a verdict expected on February 19, 2026. The world is watching as South Korea, a beacon of democracy in Asia, navigates this unprecedented judicial test.