Prosecutors seek 30-year prison term for South Korea’s Yoon

SEOUL, South Korea — South Korean prosecutors have requested a 30-year prison sentence for former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was ousted from office. The prosecutors allege that Yoon deliberately escalated tensions with North Korea in 2024 by ordering drone flights over Pyongyang in an attempt to justify declaring martial law in South Korea.

Yoon is facing charges of aiding an adversary and abusing his powers in connection to the imposition of martial law in December 2024. Prosecutors claim that Yoon and his top defense officials were responsible for drone infiltrations into North Korea, which occurred just before he declared martial law.

Yoon’s defense has denied the accusations, and his lawyers have not yet commented on the prosecution’s requested prison term. Earlier this year, Yoon was sentenced to life in prison for rebellion, a verdict that was appealed by both Yoon and the prosecutors seeking a death sentence.

The prosecution team alleges that Yoon attempted to create a warlike situation between North and South Korea to consolidate his power and eliminate political opponents. They are also seeking a 25-year prison term for Yoon’s former defense minister, Kim Yong Hyun, who played a key role in planning and executing the martial law declaration.

The tensions between North and South Korea escalated following accusations of drone flights over Pyongyang in 2024. Yoon declared martial law in a late-night address, criticizing liberals and their actions before the measure was overturned by lawmakers after six hours.

Yoon was impeached and removed from office in 2024, leading to a political crisis in South Korea. The country’s turmoil only subsided after liberal leader Lee Jae Myung won an early presidential election. Lee’s administration initiated independent investigations into Yoon’s martial law declaration and other criminal allegations.