Ex-South Korean Leader Gets Prison Term in First Ruling Over Martial Law

New York Times - WorldCenter-LeftEN 4 min read 100% complete by Choe Sang-HunJanuary 16, 2026 at 08:47 AM

AI Summary

long article 4 min

Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was sentenced to five years in prison on Friday for fabricating documents related to his 2024 imposition of martial law. The Seoul Central District Court convicted him of obstructing justice by using his security service to prevent his arrest on insurrection charges and abusing his power by excluding cabinet members from reviewing the martial law plan. He was also found guilty of falsifying documents to suggest cabinet endorsement of the plan and ordering the deletion of data from collaborators' phones. This is the first ruling in eight trials stemming from the martial law declaration, with a separate verdict on the insurrection charge, for which prosecutors seek the death penalty, due in February.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Presidential Security Service 40% Baek Dae-hyun ×250% Seoul Central District Court 60% South Korea 80% Yoon Suk Yeol ×9100%

Keywords

martial law 100% yoon suk yeol 90% prison term 80% abuse of power 70% fabricated document 70% insurrection 60% south korea 60% presidential security service 50% court ruling 50%