South Korean Court Increases Jail Term for Ex-President Yoon to Seven Years

South Korea’s political crisis deepened on Wednesday as an appeals court increased the prison sentence of former President Yoon Suk Yeol to seven years in an obstruction of justice case linked to his controversial 2024 martial law attempt.

The Seoul High Court raised Yoon’s sentence from five to seven years after overturning parts of a lower court ruling, finding him guilty of additional charges including obstructing investigators and abusing presidential authority.

The case stems from Yoon’s actions during and after his short-lived declaration of martial law in December 2024, when he was accused of using the presidential security service to block authorities from executing an arrest warrant.

Judges ruled that his actions undermined the rule of law and violated proper constitutional procedures, including bypassing required cabinet processes before declaring emergency powers.

The latest ruling adds to Yoon’s mounting legal troubles. He is already serving a life sentence handed down earlier in 2026 for leading an insurrection related to the same martial law episode, and faces multiple ongoing trials tied to abuse of power and national security allegations.

Prosecutors had pushed for a harsher sentence of up to 10 years during the appeal, arguing that Yoon’s actions represented a serious abuse of state authority and a betrayal of public trust.

Yoon has denied wrongdoing and is expected to challenge the appellate court’s decision at the Supreme Court, maintaining that the charges are politically motivated.

The ruling marks another significant development in South Korea’s ongoing political and legal reckoning following the failed martial law bid, which triggered widespread instability and led to Yoon’s impeachment and removal from office in 2025.

With several cases still pending, analysts say the final outcome of Yoon’s legal battles could have lasting implications for South Korea’s democratic institutions and political landscape.