A South Korean court on Friday (Jun 12) sentenced former president Yoon Suk Yeol to 30 years in prison after finding him guilty of unauthorised drone operations over North Korea. The judge ruled that Yoon planned the action as a pretext for his disastrous martial law declaration in 2024. The judgment comes months after the ousted president was sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of insurrection.The ruling marks another dramatic chapter in the political downfall of the former leader, who has faced multiple legal challenges since leaving office. Prosecutors have alleged that the drone flights were not routine military activities but part of a broader effort to create tensions with North Korea during a period of domestic political uncertainty.Investigators have said that the operation involved drones crossing into the airspace of North Korea in 2024. Authorities claimed the mission risked escalating military tensions on the Korean Peninsula and was carried out without proper justification. Prosecutors further alleged that the resulting security concerns were later used to support extraordinary political measures at home.The incident, which happened two months before Yoon suspended civilian rule, sparked outrage from Pyongyang, which also accused its neighbour of dropping propaganda leaflets.According to the judge, Yoon intended to provoke Pyongyang “into carrying out armed or equivalent acts against South Korea’s military of people,” AFP reported, citing a summary of the ruling.The court accepted key parts of the prosecution’s case, concluding that the actions amounted to an abuse of presidential authority and endangered national security interests. Judges said the operation had the potential to trigger a serious cross-border confrontation and undermine public trust in state institutions.Yoon planned to “heighten inter-Korean military tensions and manufacture a national crisis” so his martial law could have been justified, they added.Yoon rejected the accusations throughout the proceedings. His legal team argued that the charges were politically motivated and maintained that any military decisions made during his presidency were intended to safeguard national security in response to threats from North Korea. He insists that he declared martial law “solely for the sake of the nation.”The case has attracted widespread attention across South Korea, where relations with Pyongyang remain a highly sensitive issue. Political analysts say the verdict is likely to deepen divisions between supporters and critics of the former president while reigniting debate over executive power and military decision-making.Yoon is expected to challenge the ruling through the appeals process. However, the conviction represents one of the most significant legal judgments against a former South Korean leader in recent years and underscores the intense scrutiny facing public officials accused of misusing state power.

South Korea’s former president Yoon Suk Yeol was sentenced to 30 years for an alleged drone operation targeting North Korea, which the court said was used to justify martial law.

A South Korean court on Friday (Jun 12) sentenced former president Yoon Suk Yeol to 30 years in prison after finding him guilty of unauthorised drone operations over North Korea. The judge ruled that Yoon planned the action as a pretext for his disastrous martial law declaration in 2024. The judgment comes months after the ousted president was sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of insurrection. The ruling marks another dramatic chapter in the political downfall of the former leader, who has faced multiple legal challenges since leaving office. Prosecutors have alleged that the drone flights were not routine military activities but part of a broader effort to create tensions with North Korea during a period of domestic political uncertainty. Investigators have said that the operation involved drones crossing into the airspace of North Korea in 2024. Authorities claimed the mission risked escalating military tensions on the Korean Peninsula and was carried out without proper justification. Prosecutors further alleged that the resulting security concerns were later used to support extraordinary political measures at home. The incident, which happened two months before Yoon suspended civilian rule, sparked outrage from Pyongyang, which also accused its neighbour of dropping propaganda leaflets. According to the judge, Yoon intended to provoke Pyongyang “into carrying out armed or equivalent acts against South Korea’s military of people,” AFP reported, citing a summary of the ruling. The court accepted key parts of the prosecution’s case, concluding that the actions amounted to an abuse of presidential authority and endangered national security interests. Judges said the operation had the potential to trigger a serious cross-border confrontation and undermine public trust in state institutions. Yoon planned to “heighten inter-Korean military tensions and manufacture a national crisis” so his martial law could have been justified, they added. Yoon rejected the accusations throughout the proceedings. His legal team argued that the charges were politically motivated and maintained that any military decisions made during his presidency were intended to safeguard national security in response to threats from North Korea. He insists that he declared martial law “solely for the sake of the nation.” The case has attracted widespread attention across South Korea, where relations with Pyongyang remain a highly sensitive issue. Political analysts say the verdict is likely to deepen divisions between supporters and critics of the former president while reigniting debate over executive power and military decision-making. Yoon is expected to challenge the ruling through the appeals process. However, the conviction represents one of the most significant legal judgments against a former South Korean leader in recent years and underscores the intense scrutiny facing public officials accused of misusing state power.

South Korea’s former president Yoon Suk Yeol was sentenced to 30 years for an alleged drone operation targeting North Korea, which the court said was used to justify martial law.

South Korea’s Yoon gets 30 years in prison for North Korea drone incident

South Korea's former president Yoon Suk Yeol on Friday (Feb 20) apologised for the "mishap" caused by his 2024 martial law decree. The apology comes a day after Yoon was sentenced to life in prison for insurrection. On Thursday (Feb 19), the Seoul Central District Court found the former leader guilty of leading an insurrection in December 2024, saying his martial law declaration was a deliberate plot to "paralyse" the National Assembly.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/enemy-can-t-expect-god-s-protection-north-korea-s-kim-jong-un-unveils-monstrous-600-mm-rocket-launcher-1771486189076">North Korea's Kim Jong Un unveils monstrous 600-mm rocket launcher: Deets inside</a><h2>Yoon apologises, but claims measure was taken "solely for the sake of the nation"</h2>A day after receiving a life sentence, Yoon acknowledged that his attempt to impose military rule in South Korea had caused "frustration and hardship" but insisted that he took the measure "solely for the sake of the nation".In a statement shared by his lawyers, Yoon said, "I deeply apologise to the people for the frustration and hardships I have caused them, due to my own shortcomings, despite my resolve to save the nation".Referring to the court's verdict against him, the former president added that it was "difficult to accept" but did not say if he was planning to appeal it.When will Yoon be eligible for parole?According to AFP, inmates serving a life term in South Korea can typically apply for parole after 20 years.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/hang-in-there-punch-rejected-baby-monkey-carries-plushie-everywhere-internet-rallies-behind-him-this-is-his-story-1771568748975">#HangInTherePunch: Baby monkey carries plushie everywhere. Here's why</a><h2>What did Yoon do?</h2>On the night of December 3, 2024, South Korea's president, Yoon Suk Yeol, suddenly declared martial law in the country for the first time in nearly 50 years, citing “anti-state forces” and threats from North Korea.However, South Korean politicians, including his own conservative People's Power Party (PPP) leaders, called the law illegal and unconstitutional. Soon, citizens protested outside parliament as the MPs voted against it.The opposition Democratic Party (DP), led by Lee Jae-myung, filed a motion to impeach Yoon, which went through on December 14. After attempting to impose martial law in the country, Yoon was suspended from office on December 14, 2024, after being impeached by the lawmakers. He was formally removed by the Constitutional Court last year in April. &nbsp;

South Korea’s former president Yoon Suk Yeol apologised for the “mishap” caused by his 2024 martial law decree, a day after being sentenced to life in prison for insurrection by the Seoul Central District Court.

South Korea's former president Yoon Suk Yeol on Friday (Feb 20) apologised for the "mishap" caused by his 2024 martial law decree. The apology comes a day after Yoon was sentenced to life in prison for insurrection. On Thursday (Feb 19), the Seoul Central District Court found the former leader guilty of leading an insurrection in December 2024, saying his martial law declaration was a deliberate plot to "paralyse" the National Assembly. Also read | North Korea's Kim Jong Un unveils monstrous 600-mm rocket launcher: Deets inside Yoon apologises, but claims measure was taken "solely for the sake of the nation" A day after receiving a life sentence, Yoon acknowledged that his attempt to impose military rule in South Korea had caused "frustration and hardship" but insisted that he took the measure "solely for the sake of the nation". In a statement shared by his lawyers, Yoon said, "I deeply apologise to the people for the frustration and hardships I have caused them, due to my own shortcomings, despite my resolve to save the nation". Referring to the court's verdict against him, the former president added that it was "difficult to accept" but did not say if he was planning to appeal it. When will Yoon be eligible for parole? According to AFP, inmates serving a life term in South Korea can typically apply for parole after 20 years. Also read | #HangInTherePunch: Baby monkey carries plushie everywhere. Here's why What did Yoon do? On the night of December 3, 2024, South Korea's president, Yoon Suk Yeol, suddenly declared martial law in the country for the first time in nearly 50 years, citing “anti-state forces” and threats from North Korea. However, South Korean politicians, including his own conservative People's Power Party (PPP) leaders, called the law illegal and unconstitutional. Soon, citizens protested outside parliament as the MPs voted against it. The opposition Democratic Party (DP), led by Lee Jae-myung, filed a motion to impeach Yoon, which went through on December 14. After attempting to impose martial law in the country, Yoon was suspended from office on December 14, 2024, after being impeached by the lawmakers. He was formally removed by the Constitutional Court last year in April.

South Korea’s former president Yoon Suk Yeol apologised for the “mishap” caused by his 2024 martial law decree, a day after being sentenced to life in prison for insurrection by the Seoul Central District Court.

South Korea ex-president Yoon apologises after getting life term for 2024 insurrection attempt

A South Korean court on Thursday (Feb 19) found ousted president Yoon Suk Yeol guilty of insurrection, saying his martial law declaration was a deliberate blot to “paralyse” the National Assembly. Yoon was sentenced to life in prison on the charges of attempting to impose martial law in the country and sending troops to surround the legislature. The former leader was also found guilty of abuse of authority, the judge told the court. The move triggered the country’s most serious political crisis in decades on December 3, 2024.The verdict was delivered by Seoul Central District Court Judge Jee Kui-youn. Hundreds of police officers were deployed outside the judicial complex as Yoon’s supporters gathered as the prison bus transporting him drove past. While critics demanded the death penalty for the former leader.“The court finds that the intention was to paralyse the assembly for a considerable period,” Jee told Seoul Central District Court. “The declaration of martial law resulted in enormous social costs, and it is difficult to find any indication that the defendant has expressed remorse for that.”&nbsp;“We sentence Yoon to life imprisonment.”However, the court found that there was insufficient evidence to suggest that Yoon had planned the imposition of martial law a year in advance, as alleged by prosecutors.&nbsp;After attempting to impose martial law in the country, Yoon was suspended from office on December 14, 2024, after being impeached by the lawmakers. He was formally removed by the Constitutional Court last year in April. Yoon’s defence minister, Kim Yong-hyun, was also found guilty and will face a sentence of 30 years’ imprisonment.On the night of December 3, 2024, South Korea's president Yoon Suk Yeol suddenly declared martial law in the country for the first time in nearly 50 years, citing “anti-state forces” and threats from North Korea.However, South Korean politicians, including his own conservative People's Power Party (PPP) leaders, called the law illegal and unconstitutional. Soon, citizens protested outside parliament as the MPs voted against it.The opposition Democratic Party (DP), led by Lee Jae-myung, filed a motion to impeach Yoon, which went through on December 14.&nbsp;

Yoon was sentenced to life in prison on the charges of attempting to impose martial law in the country and sending troops to surround the legislature.

A South Korean court on Thursday (Feb 19) found ousted president Yoon Suk Yeol guilty of insurrection, saying his martial law declaration was a deliberate blot to “paralyse” the National Assembly. Yoon was sentenced to life in prison on the charges of attempting to impose martial law in the country and sending troops to surround the legislature. The former leader was also found guilty of abuse of authority, the judge told the court. The move triggered the country’s most serious political crisis in decades on December 3, 2024. The verdict was delivered by Seoul Central District Court Judge Jee Kui-youn. Hundreds of police officers were deployed outside the judicial complex as Yoon’s supporters gathered as the prison bus transporting him drove past. While critics demanded the death penalty for the former leader. “The court finds that the intention was to paralyse the assembly for a considerable period,” Jee told Seoul Central District Court. “The declaration of martial law resulted in enormous social costs, and it is difficult to find any indication that the defendant has expressed remorse for that.” “We sentence Yoon to life imprisonment.” However, the court found that there was insufficient evidence to suggest that Yoon had planned the imposition of martial law a year in advance, as alleged by prosecutors. After attempting to impose martial law in the country, Yoon was suspended from office on December 14, 2024, after being impeached by the lawmakers. He was formally removed by the Constitutional Court last year in April. Yoon’s defence minister, Kim Yong-hyun, was also found guilty and will face a sentence of 30 years’ imprisonment. On the night of December 3, 2024, South Korea's president Yoon Suk Yeol suddenly declared martial law in the country for the first time in nearly 50 years, citing “anti-state forces” and threats from North Korea. However, South Korean politicians, including his own conservative People's Power Party (PPP) leaders, called the law illegal and unconstitutional. Soon, citizens protested outside parliament as the MPs voted against it. The opposition Democratic Party (DP), led by Lee Jae-myung, filed a motion to impeach Yoon, which went through on December 14.

Yoon was sentenced to life in prison on the charges of attempting to impose martial law in the country and sending troops to surround the legislature.

South Korea’s Yoon gets life in prison for declaring martial law

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South Korea’s Yoon gets 30 years in prison for North Korea drone incident

S.Korea ex-president Yoon apologises after getting life term for insurrection

South Korea’s Yoon gets life in prison for declaring martial law