Appeals court increases ex-president's martial law-related sentence to 7 years

By Lee Hugh Posted : April 29, 2026, 17:05 Updated : April 29, 2026, 17:16
Former President Yoon Suk Yeol (center) attends a trial at the Seoul High Court in southern Seoul on April 29, 2026. Yonhap
SEOUL, April 29 (AJP) - Former President Yoon Suk Yeol was sentenced to seven years in prison on Wednesday over one of several charges related to his botched martial law debacle as an appeals court stiffened the initial five-year sentence handed down in January.

In a televised verdict, the Seoul High Court in southern Seoul found him guilty of obstructing official duties, fabricating official documents, and other charges related to his declaration of martial law on Dec. 3, 2024.

It was Yoon's first appellate ruling among a string of cases related to the debacle including the main charges of insurrection and abuse of power, for which he was sentenced to life in prison in the first trial in February, which is also under appeal.

Prosecutors had earlier sought 10 years in prison for Yoon.

Wednesday's ruling came just a day after his wife and former first lady Kim Keon Hee was sentenced to four years in prison on multiple charges including bribery and involvement in a stock manipulation scheme, in an appellate ruling, more than twice the 20-month sentence handed down in the first trial, leaving the disgraced couple with their sentences increased on appeal.

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