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South Korea's highest court has affirmed a seven-year prison sentence for former president Yoon Suk Yeol, confirming his conviction for crimes linked to his controversial 2024 martial law declaration. The Supreme Court dismissed all appeals, finding no errors in the lower court's judgment.

The case centered on accusations that Yoon obstructed cabinet deliberations and employed forged signatures of the prime minister in the lead-up to declaring martial law. He was also charged with using presidential security agents to prevent his own arrest after lawmakers nullified the declaration. Prosecutors had initially sought a 10-year sentence.

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All appeals are dismissed.

Yoon is currently detained and appealing a separate life sentence for leading an insurrection stemming from the same martial law declaration. He maintains that his actions were motivated by public interest and necessary to combat "anti-state forces" and perceived threats from North Korea.

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deep regret

The martial law declaration, made in a late-night televised address in December 2024, suspended civilian rule and plunged the nation into a political crisis. It lasted only about six hours before lawmakers voted it down. The move triggered protests, caused the stock market to plunge, and surprised key international allies.

In a separate legal proceeding, Yoon received a 30-year prison sentence for sending drones into North Korea to allegedly "manufacture" a crisis before his martial law bid. Yoon was ousted from the presidency in April 2025 following the martial law attempt, leading to elections won by Lee Jae Myung of the Democratic Party.

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solely for the sake of the nation