Prosecutors Seek 30-Year Sentence For Ex‑President Yoon — South Korean prosecutors say Yoon Suk Yeol ordered a drone mission over Pyongyang to help justify his December 2024 declaration of martial law. The request is part of eight legal cases against the former president. Yoon denies the charges; the Seoul Central District Court will rule at a later date.
South Korean Prosecutors Seek 30-Year Prison Term For Ex‑President Yoon Over Alleged Pyongyang Drone Operation
Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol arrives at a court to attend a hearing to review his arrest warrant requested by special prosecutors in Seoul, South Korea, July 9, 2025. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji/Pool
South Korean prosecutors on Friday asked a court to sentence former President Yoon Suk Yeol to 30 years in prison, alleging he ordered a drone operation over Pyongyang to help create a pretext for his December 2024 declaration of martial law, Yonhap reported.
Case Details
The Seoul Central District Court is expected to issue a ruling at a later date. The prosecution's request is part of eight separate legal cases Yoon faces after he was removed from office last year following a brief and controversial declaration of martial law that rattled a nation widely regarded as one of Asia's most resilient democracies.
Prosecutors allege the drone operation heightened military tensions with North Korea and, after a drone crashed, risked exposing sensitive military information about the mission and South Korea's capabilities. They say the actions endangered national security and may have provided advantage to an adversary.
Charges And Defense
Yoon has denied the accusations. His lawyers say he did not take any actions that could have provoked a military clash with North Korea. The former president was indicted in November on charges that include "benefiting the enemy," a serious offence that can apply even without direct collusion if actions harm South Korea's military interests or aid an adversary.
Reporting by Joyce Lee; Editing by Ed Davies
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