TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – A South Korean appeals court hiked on Wednesday the sentence of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol from five years to seven years, in a justice obstruction case.
In January, a lower court sentenced Yoon to five years in prison for abuse of power, having used presidential security agents to block his arrest, and for other charges.
In a separate trial, Yoon was sentenced to life in prison for the crime of leading an insurrection over abruptly imposing martial law in 2024.
What does Yoon’s sentence say?
Yoon’s previous sentence for the crime of obstruction was handed to him by a lower court that also cleared of some of the charges.
On Wednesday, the appeals court upheld the initial convictions, but also overturned some of the acquittals. Yoon charges were linked to his short-lived 2024 martial law. Prosecutors had been seeking a 10-year jail 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,” the Seoul High Court judge said.
The initial sentence handed to Yoon in January found him guilty of:
- Not following due process before declaring martial law
- Fabricating official documentation related to the declaration
- Destroying potential criminal evidence by wiping official phone data
- Obstructing authorities from executing an arrest warrant
Yoon may still appeal this sentence at the Supreme Court.
Yoon life sentence and other legal troubles
Yoon was handed a life sentence in February for the crime of leading an insurrection, a result of his failed attempt to impose martial law in 2024.
In December of 2024, Yoon made a shock late-night televised address, declaring the suspension of civilian rule. Martial law lasted about six hours that night as lawmakers rushed to the assembly building and voted it down in an emergency session.
He justified the move, saying his plan was to restore democratic order, claiming the country was being besieged by the opposition and “anti-state” forces.
This came after his right-wing People Power Party lost its parliamentary majority earlier that year.
Yoon’s wife, former first lady Kim Keon Hee, was also given an increased jail sentence earlier this week, on unrelated corruption crimes.
Yoon faces eight trials related to his time as president. He denies wrongdoing.
Read: Former South Korean First Lady Kim Handed Longer Graft Sentence
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