Political situation in South Korea

Former president's sentence increased - blocked his own arrest

South Korea's former president Yoon Suk-Yeol will receive a harsher sentence for obstructing justice, Reuters reports. An appeals court in Seoul sentenced him to seven years in prison instead of a previous sentence of five years.

The court ruled that Yoon used the president's bodyguards to block his own arrest. According to the judge, his actions were "highly reprehensible".

Yoon is already serving a life sentence for rebellion after his failed attempt to impose a state of emergency in 2024. He has appealed that sentence as well, saying he acted solely for the sake of the nation.

The attempted coup in South Korea — the case at hand

• Former South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol has been sentenced to life in prison for declaring a state of emergency and martial law in December 2024.
• The court ruled that Yoon attempted to paralyze the government, which led to his impeachment in April 2025.
• Former Prime Minister Han Duck-Soo has also been sentenced to 23 years in prison and Defense Minister Kim Yong-Hyun to 30 years for their roles in the attempted coup.
• Yoon's wife Kim Keon-Hee has been sentenced to four years in prison for bribery and market manipulation after accepting luxury gifts.
• After months of political crisis, Lee Jae-Myung was elected as the new president in June 2025, while the country remains deeply polarized.