A court in Seoul sentenced the former leader to prison for sending military drones to North Korea.
Posted on: June 12, 2026
Former President Yoon Seok-yeol was sentenced to 30 years in prison for sending military drones to North Korea. Prosecutors claimed the move was intended to create a pretext for his disastrous declaration of martial law in 2024.
The drone flights, which North Korea said included dropping propaganda leaflets, heightened military tensions between the countries in October 2024.
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The special prosecutor, who had sought 30 years in prison for former President Yoon, said in April that former President Yoon’s attempt to ‘manipulate the war situation’ using drones undermined national security.
A spokesperson for the Seoul Central District Court told AFP on Friday that Yoon was “sentenced to 30 years in prison” on drone-related charges, but did not provide further details.
Mr. Yoon denied any wrongdoing.
The ruling adds to a string of rulings against the ousted conservative leader, who was South Korea’s top prosecutor when martial law plunged Asia’s fourth-largest economy into its deepest political turmoil in decades.
In February, a South Korean court sentenced Yun to life in prison after finding him guilty of leading an insurrection linked to an attempt to impose martial law.
He resigned from office last year after the Constitutional Court upheld his impeachment, which led to a snap election victory for progressive President Lee Jae-myung.
Yoon’s lawyers said he did not order or later approve the drone operation. It said it had nothing to do with martial law and was instead a response to North Korea’s months of launching trash-filled balloons across the border.
Yun, who is already in custody, can appeal Friday’s lower court ruling.
Drone flights remain a flashpoint of tension between North and South Korea, which are still technically at war.
Lee expressed regret earlier this year after an investigation found government officials had sent drones to nuclear-armed North Korea in January.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s powerful sister called his comments a “wise move” but hopes for reconciliation were dashed after the diplomatically isolated nation again called South Korea its “most hostile” enemy.
