A Republic of Korea (ROK) appeals court has increased the prison sentence for former President Yoon Suk-yeol to seven years. The decision, handed down on Wednesday, overturns a lower court's five-year sentence on charges of obstructing an arrest attempt.
The Seoul High Court ruled that blocking the initial arrest constituted abuse of power and special obstruction of official duties. The court noted that the execution of the first arrest warrant for the then-president was lawful, as was the subsequent search warrant for the presidential residence.
The case stems from events in early 2025. Yoon was charged with abusing the presidential security service to hinder the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) from executing an arrest warrant in January of that year. According to the charges, the security service formed human shields and bus blockades to prevent investigators from entering the presidential residence.
These charges were linked to a broader investigation into a 2024 insurrection, for which Yoon was indicted while in detention in January 2025. He became the ROK's first sitting president to be arrested and indicted. The insurrection allegation was connected to a short-lived declaration of emergency martial law by Yoon in December 2024, which was revoked by the National Assembly hours later.
Independent counsel Cho Eun-suk's team, which led the probe, had sought a 10-year sentence on appeal. While the court increased the term, it stopped short of the prosecution's full request.
The legal proceedings mark a significant chapter in the ROK's political and judicial history, highlighting the ongoing process of judicial review for high-ranking officials. For business professionals and observers of East Asia, the case underscores the region's dynamic legal and political landscapes.
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Sentence for ROK's ex-president Yoon increased to 7 years on appeal
cgtn.com
