Published On 4/24/2026
On Friday, the South Korean Public Prosecution demanded that former President Yeon Suk-Yul be imprisoned for 30 years, on charges of “providing a benefit to the enemy,” against the backdrop of allegations that he sent military drones over the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, in 2024.
South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency said that a special prosecution team assigned to the case also demanded that former Defense Minister Kim Young-hyun be sentenced to 25 years in prison under the same charges.
Former President Yoon is accused of sending the drones with the aim of stimulating a retaliatory response from North Korea, and creating a pretext to justify his declaration of martial law in late 2024.
These claims by the Public Prosecution come in the final stages of Yoon’s trial in the Seoul Central District Court, after he was sentenced last January, sentencing him to 5 years in prison, following his conviction in one of the 8 criminal cases he faces.
Yoon, who was impeached in April last year, faces a series of criminal trials over his imposition of martial law and other scandals related to his presidency. The most serious of these cases amounts to a charge of “leading an armed rebellion,” a crime for which the maximum penalty may reach death under the law.
It is noteworthy that on December 3, 2024, the former president declared martial law in the country, with the aim of “eliminating the forces loyal to North Korea, and preserving freedom and constitutional order in the country,” and accused the opposition of involvement in anti-state activities.
Following the announcement, Parliament held an emergency session, after which the Office of the Speaker of Parliament issued a statement announcing the abolition of martial law following a vote by representatives. Parliament approved Yoon’s dismissal on the 14th of the same month, a decision that was implemented after it was upheld by the Constitutional Court.
