Seoul High Court Raises Yoon Sentence to 7 Years on Martial Law Charges

A Seoul High Court on Wednesday increased the prison sentence of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to seven years, up from five years imposed by a lower court, in a case stemming from his short-lived 2024 martial law declaration and related obstructions of justice.

The appeals court upheld convictions for abuse of power, including Yoon's exclusion of Cabinet members from deliberations before declaring martial law on December 3, 2024. It expanded on the lower court's finding by ruling that Yoon also violated the rights of former Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun and former Agriculture Minister Kim Moon-soo, who were notified too late to participate. Yoon had summoned some ministers that night to meet a quorum but did not inform others in time.

The court further convicted Yoon of abuse of power for instructing presidential aides to prepare misleading guidance for foreign media, asserting the legality of the martial law decree despite its flaws. It rejected the lower court's acquittal on this charge, stating that public officials must follow lawful instructions in the public interest. The judges also upheld findings that Yoon signed a backdated martial law decree four days...