South Korea’s Ousted President Yoon Gets 30-Year Prison Term for Drone Flights
8 verified4 unconfirmed
A South Korean court sentenced ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol and his former defense minister, Kim Yong Hyun, to 30 years in prison on Friday. The case centered on allegations that Yoon ordered drone flights over Pyongyang in October 2024 to heighten tensions with North Korea and justify his later declaration of martial law. The Seoul Central District Court found the pair guilty of abuse of power and aiding an adversary. North Korea had accused South Korea of flying drones over Pyongyang three times to drop propaganda leaflets, a claim Seoul’s Defense Ministry said it could neither confirm nor deny. Yoon’s lawyers argued the drone flights were a response to North Korea sending trash-laden balloons across the border earlier in 2024. The verdict adds to Yoon’s legal troubles; he was previously sentenced to life in prison for rebellion over his short-lived martial law declaration in December 2024, which was overturned by lawmakers within six hours. Yoon was impeached, removed by the Constitutional Court, and arrested in July 2025.
What’s verified
Ousted South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and former defense minister Kim Yong Hyun were each sentenced to 30 years in prison by the Seoul Central District Court.
The sentence stems from allegations that Yoon ordered drone flights over Pyongyang in October 2024 to provoke tensions with North Korea and justify his December 2024 martial law declaration.
North Korea accused Seoul of flying drones over Pyongyang three times that month to drop propaganda leaflets; South Korea’s Defense Ministry said it could neither confirm nor deny the allegations.
Yoon’s lawyers criticized the ruling, arguing the drone flights were a response to North Korea’s earlier sending of trash-carrying balloons and were a legitimate act of self-defense.
Yoon was previously sentenced to life in prison for a rebellion conviction related to his short-lived imposition of martial law on December 3–4, 2024.
The martial law declaration lasted about six hours before lawmakers voted to overturn it.
Yoon was impeached, formally removed by the Constitutional Court, and arrested in July 2025; several criminal trials are ongoing.
Investigators led by special prosecutor Cho Eun-suk had sought 30 years for Yoon and 25 years for Kim Yong Hyun.
Not yet confirmed
Whether Yoon has denied wrongdoing is reported by only one source, which states he "has denied wrongdoing."
The court’s specific finding that Yoon’s drone flights harmed South Korea’s military interests by exposing capabilities and prompting North Korea to strengthen its defense posture appears in only one source.
The exact month of Yoon’s formal removal from office is given as April 2025 by one source, while others do not specify a month.
The life sentence for rebellion is reported by one source as handed down in February 2026, while others do not give a date.
Key figures
Yoon Suk Yeol – ousted South Korean president
Kim Yong Hyun – former defense minister
Cho Eun-suk – special prosecutor
Sources: abcnews.com, NPR, dw.com
