Yoon Suk Yeol jailed for 30 years after a South Korean court ruled drone operations were used to justify his 2024 martial law declaration

Former South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol was sentenced to 30 years in prison on Friday after a court found that he authorised military drone operations into North Korea as part of a plan to create a national security crisis and justify his controversial declaration of martial law in 2024.

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The ruling, delivered by the Seoul Central District Court, marks the latest legal setback for Yoon, who is already in detention while appealing a separate life sentence imposed for leading an insurrection through the martial law declaration.

According to a summary of the court’s decision, judges concluded that Yoon intended to provoke North Korea into carrying out hostile actions against South Korea in order to heighten military tensions and create conditions that could be used to legitimise emergency rule.

The court held that the drone flights, which took place two months before the declaration of martial law, were designed to manufacture a national crisis rather than serve legitimate security objectives.

Judges said Yoon sought to provoke Pyongyang into carrying out armed or equivalent acts against South Korea’s military or citizens, thereby creating a justification for extraordinary political measures.

The drone operations had triggered anger in North Korea, which accused Seoul of sending propaganda materials across the border alongside the flights.

In delivering the sentence, the court said the operation involved the misuse of South Korea’s military capabilities for personal political purposes.

The judges emphasised that presidential powers, including command of the armed forces and authority to declare martial law, must be exercised solely to protect national security and constitutional order.

According to the ruling, Yoon approved the drone mission believing he could deploy those powers for his own political advantage.

Yoon has consistently denied wrongdoing. The former president has maintained that the martial law declaration was made solely in the national interest.

His legal team also rejected allegations linked to the drone operation, arguing that the flights were a response to North Korean balloons carrying rubbish across the border during the same period.

The case stems from the political crisis triggered by Yoon’s late-night televised address in December 2024 announcing martial law and temporarily suspending civilian rule.

The measure lasted only a few hours after lawmakers convened an emergency session and voted to overturn it.

The declaration nevertheless sparked widespread protests, unsettled financial markets and drew concern from key international allies, including the United States.

The political fallout eventually led to Yoon’s removal from office and months of instability before the election of President Lee Jae Myung.

Relations between the two Koreas remain tense, with drone operations continuing to serve as a major flashpoint between the neighbours, which are technically still at war.

In a separate incident unrelated to the case, South Korean investigators earlier found that government officials had sent drones into North Korea in January. President Lee later expressed regret over that operation.

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Although North Korea initially responded positively to Lee’s remarks, hopes for improved relations have since diminished, with Pyongyang continuing to describe South Korea as its “most hostile” enemy.