A South Korean court sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to 30 years in prison for his role in a military drone operation. Prosecutors said drones crossed into North Korea in October 2024. The court ruled that Yoon helped plan the operation from the start.
Prosecutors Say Drones Were Meant to Support Martial Law
According to prosecutors, the drone incursion aimed to increase tensions with Pyongyang. They argued that Yoon wanted those tensions to help justify his December 2024 martial law declaration. However, Yoon denied the allegations. His lawyers said he neither ordered nor approved the drone mission. They also said the operation responded to North Korea’s launches of rubbish-filled balloons across the border.
Legal Troubles Continue After Removal From Office
The new sentence adds to Yoon’s legal problems. In February, another South Korean court sentenced him to life in prison for leading an insurrection tied to the failed martial law attempt. Later, South Korea’s Constitutional Court upheld his impeachment and removed him from office. As a result, the country held a snap election, and President Lee Jae Myung won. Yoon remains in custody. Nevertheless, he can still appeal the new 30-year sentence.
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