Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on January 16, 2026
1 min readLast updated: January 19, 2026
Ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol sentenced to 5 years for obstructing arrest over martial law charges. The ruling can be appealed.
SEOUL, Jan 16 (Reuters) - A South Korean court on Friday sentenced former president Yoon Suk Yeol to five years in prison for charges including obstructing attempts to arrest him following his failed bid to impose martial law.
The Seoul Central District Court said it found Yoon guilty of obstructing authorities from executing an arrest warrant related to his martial law declaration in December 2024, live broadcast of the ruling showed.
He was also found guilty of charges that include fabricating official documents and failing to comply with legal process required for martial law.
The ruling is the first related to the criminal charges Yoon faces over his botched martial law declaration.
The ruling can be appealed.
(Reporting by Heejin Kim, Jack KimEditing by Ed Davies)
Obstruction of justice refers to any act that interferes with the enforcement of the law or the administration of justice, including preventing law enforcement from executing a warrant.
A court ruling is a decision made by a judge or court regarding a legal matter, which may include the outcome of a trial or the interpretation of law.
Legal consequences are the outcomes or penalties that result from violating laws or regulations, which can include fines, imprisonment, or other forms of punishment.
An arrest warrant is a legal document issued by a judge or magistrate that authorizes law enforcement to arrest an individual suspected of a crime.
The criminal procedure code is a set of laws that outlines the process for the prosecution of criminal offenses, including the rights of the accused and the procedures for trials.
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