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A court in South Korea has sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to 30 years in prison on Friday, citing his involvement in charges related to military drones flown over Pyongyang. The drones were allegedly sent to create a pretext for his unsuccessful attempt to impose martial law in December 2024, according to Yonhap News Agency.
The Seoul Central District Court convicted Yoon of abuse of power and aiding the enemy, claiming he was complicit in the drone incursion from the beginning of the October 2024 incident. Yoon has denied any wrongdoing, asserting that he neither ordered nor approved the operation. His lawyers emphasized that the drone activity was unrelated to martial law and was simply a response to persistent North Korean balloon launches filled with rubbish that drifted across the border.
Prosecutors had previously sought a 30-year prison sentence for Yoon back in April. This ruling adds to a series of convictions against the former conservative leader, who served as South Korea’s top prosecutor before his presidency. His martial law order led the country into its deepest political crisis in decades.
In February, Yoon received a life sentence from a South Korean court after being found guilty of leading an insurrection connected to the martial law attempt. Last year, he was removed from office following the Constitutional Court’s decision to uphold his impeachment. This prompted a snap presidential election, which was won by liberal candidate Lee Jae Myung.
Yoon is currently in custody and has the right to appeal Friday’s decision.
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