South Korea seeks 30-year sentence for former President
The South Korean prosecution has requested a 30-year prison sentence for former President Yoon Suk-yeol, accused of sending military drones over North Korea in 2024 in an attempt to provoke an incident, Yonhap and AFP reported.
In February, the 65-year-old former head of state had already been sentenced to life imprisonment for attempted coup after trying to impose martial law in South Korea in December 2024, during which he sent the army into parliament.
In January, he was also sentenced to five years in prison in another case related to the same events, CE Report quotes BTA.
On Friday, during his third trial at a court in Seoul, prosecutors requested 30 years in prison for “actions in favor of the enemy.” They accuse Yoon of ordering drones carrying propaganda leaflets to be sent over Pyongyang in October 2024, aiming to provoke an armed incident that could serve as justification for imposing martial law.
Prosecutors said his attempt to “create artificial conditions for war” threatened national security by escalating tensions with North Korea. They also alleged that he exposed classified South Korean military information, as some of the drones crashed on North Korean territory.
Unexpectedly, North Korea reacted mildly, only warning it would respond if further drone flights occurred. However, two months later Yoon still attempted to proceed with his plan, justifying it with vague threats from “anti-state forces” allegedly working for North Korea, and citing the opposition-controlled parliament’s refusal to pass his budget.
However, enough lawmakers managed to enter the military-surrounded parliament and pass a resolution against martial law, forcing Yoon to back down. Civilian rule was ultimately suspended for only six hours, but the attempt triggered a deep political crisis in the country.
Yoon Suk-yeol was removed from office in April 2025 and is currently in prison. He is appealing his life sentence, claiming he acted “solely for the good of the nation.”
