Overview
- A Seoul court on Friday, June 12, 2026 sentenced former president Yoon Suk Yeol to 30 years in prison after finding him guilty of benefiting the enemy and abusing power in a drone operation case.
- The ruling matched the special counsel’s recommendation and applies while Yoon remains in custody and prepares an appeal of this verdict and his earlier life sentence for the December 2024 martial law attempt.
- Three senior defence officials were also convicted with former defence minister Kim Yong‑hyun receiving 30 years, Yeo In‑hyung 15 years, and Kim Yong‑dae a three‑year sentence suspended for five years.
- The court said the October 2024 drone flights were ordered to provoke Pyongyang and create conditions that could justify a national emergency, and it found the operation exposed military capabilities and risked leaking classified information.
- The convictions deepen a major domestic political crisis, raise questions about oversight of presidential command over the military, and could affect inter‑Korean security and future legal reviews as appeals and further proceedings continue.