A South Korean court has sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to 30 years in prison after finding him guilty in a controversial military drone case linked to the events leading up to the failed martial law declaration in December 2024.
According to local reports, the Seoul Central District Court ruled that Yoon played a key role in a military drone operation that allegedly sent unmanned aircraft into Pyongyang in October 2024. The court concluded that the operation was intended to create tensions with North Korea and help justify the declaration of martial law later that year.
Judges found the former president guilty of abuse of power and aiding the enemy, stating that he was involved in planning the drone mission from the beginning. Prosecutors had requested a 30 year prison sentence during hearings held earlier this year, and the court ultimately agreed with their recommendation.
However, Yoon has strongly rejected the allegations. His legal team argued that he neither ordered nor approved the drone operation. They maintained that the mission was a defensive response to repeated incidents involving North Korean balloons carrying rubbish that had crossed into South Korean territory for several months.
The latest verdict adds to Yoon’s growing legal troubles. Earlier this year, another South Korean court sentenced him to life imprisonment after finding him guilty of leading an insurrection related to the controversial martial law attempt.
Yoon, who previously served as South Korea’s chief prosecutor before entering politics, was removed from office after the country’s Constitutional Court upheld his impeachment. His removal triggered a snap presidential election that was won by current President Lee Jae Myung.
Despite the latest ruling, the former president still has the legal right to challenge the decision. His lawyers have indicated that they are expected to file an appeal against the verdict. Yoon remains in custody while the legal process continues, keeping one of South Korea’s most significant political scandals in the spotlight.
