The Seoul High Court has increased the prison sentence of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol from five to seven years in a case related to obstruction of justice over his declaration of martial law, Yonhap news agency reported.

In January 2026, a lower court found the former president guilty of obstructing his own arrest and sentenced him to five years in prison. Prosecutors had sought a 10-year sentence.

The criminal investigation into Yoon began after he declared martial law in December 2024. According to the indictment, the former president conspired with then-Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun and other officials to send troops and police to the National Assembly building to prevent lawmakers from voting against his decree.

In April 2025, the Seoul Central District Court found Yoon guilty of leading an insurrection and sentenced him to life imprisonment. A special prosecution team had demanded the death penalty, which has not been carried out in South Korea since 1997.

Yoon has denied the charges, calling the martial law declaration an attempt to “protect freedom and sovereignty.”

Several other individuals have been prosecuted in connection with the martial law case. Former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun received a 30-year sentence, former Seoul police chief Kim Bong-sik was sentenced to 10 years, former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo to 23 years, and former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min to seven years in prison.

Source: www.gazeta.uz