A South Korean court on Friday sentenced the country’s former President Yun Suk Yeol to 30 years in prison for sending drones to North Korea.
Prosecutors had alleged that Yun’s move was a deliberate attempt to escalate tensions with Pyongyang and justify his failed attempt to declare martial law in December 2024.
South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported that the Seoul Central District Court handed down the verdict, finding Yoon guilty of abuse of power and aiding the enemy.
Yoon has denied any wrongdoing.
On Friday, former Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun was also sentenced to 30 years in prison along with his former boss.
South Korea’s Yoon stuck in legal trouble
Yun’s brief imposition of martial law led to his impeachment.
Several allegations related to this were made against him and he was formally removed from the post in April 2025.
In February, Yun was sentenced to life in prison for leading a rebellion and undermining the constitution.
The judges in the case ruled that his decision to declare martial law was “intended” to paralyze the National Assembly.
What is North Korea drone incident?
North Korea claimed that South Korea flew drones over Pyongyang to drop propaganda leaflets three times in October 2024.
Kim, the South’s defense minister at the time, issued a vague denial. Shortly afterward, the Defense Ministry in Seoul said it could neither confirm nor deny Pyongyang’s allegations.
Yun’s lawyers argued that the ousted leader did not order or subsequently approve the drone intrusion, which they claimed had no connection to martial law.
Lawyers said the operation was in response to North Korea sending balloons filled with garbage across the border that year and was “a legitimate act of self-defense.”
Yoon, who is already in custody, has the option to appeal Friday’s lower court sentence.
Edited by: Darko Janjevic