Ex-President Yoon Suk-yeol gets 7-year sentence, loses lawyer's license

Former South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol's legal troubles have culminated in a seven-year prison sentence, upheld by the Supreme Court, for obstructing justice. The conviction stems from his actions in 2025 when, as president, he directed presidential guards to create a human barrier preventing prosecutors from arresting officials. This ruling definitively ends his career as a lawyer, with the Ministry of Justice ordering the cancellation of his license.

The Supreme Court's decision on July 9th finalized the verdict for charges including obstruction of official duties and abuse of power. Yoon, who had already been impeached and removed from office, now faces the consequence of his directive.

This conviction is not Yoon's only legal battle. He is also embroiled in other significant criminal cases. In a separate case concerning the alleged illegal declaration of martial law in December 2024, he received a life sentence in the first trial, with the appeal still ongoing. Additionally, he was sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for three years, for lying during the 2022 presidential election about his acquaintance with a shaman. His legal team has appealed this verdict.

The cancellation of his lawyer's license marks a definitive end to Yoon's 30-year legal career, as South Korean law stipulates that individuals sentenced to imprisonment or heavier penalties automatically lose their legal qualifications.