Yoon Suk Yeol, former South Korean president, sentenced to 30 years in prison in the case of infiltration of drones into North Korean space
A court in Seoul sentenced former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to 30 years in prison on Friday for allegedly ordering the infiltration of drones into North Korea to heighten tensions and create a pretext for declaring martial law in December 2024.
Yoon Suk Yeol, sentenced to 30 years in prison PHOTO: X
The sentence was handed down by a court in the South Korean capital, which accepted the charges brought by special prosecutor Cho Eun-suk's team, according to South Korea's Yonhap news agency. Prosecutors sought the same punishment, arguing that former head of state Yoon Suk Yeol acted against national interests, according to Mediafax.
According to investigators, Yoon Suk Yeol allegedly ordered drone flights into North Korean airspace in October 2024 to provoke a reaction from Pyongyang and to later justify the declaration of martial law on December 3, 2024.
Among the charges is “favoring the enemy,” with prosecutors arguing that the operation was aimed at creating an artificial security crisis to allow the expansion of executive powers.
The case represents one of the worst political trials in South Korea's recent history.
The former president can appeal the decision.
