Former South Korean President Sentenced to 5 Years in First Ruling Over Martial Law Decree

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol answers a reporter’s question during a press conference at the Presidential Office in Seoul, South Korea, on Nov. 7, 2024. Hong-Ji/ReutersA South Korean court on Jan. 16 sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to five years’ imprisonment in the first verdict related to his failed imposition of martial law in December 2024.During the televised proceedings, Seoul Central District Court found 65-year-old Yoon guilty of mobilizing the presidential security service to prevent authorities from detaining him, fabricating official documents, and failing to follow the legal process required for declaring martial law.