South Korea's ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol handed 30-year sentence for drone flights over North Korea

The verdict

On Friday, June 12, 2026, the Seoul Central District Court sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to 30 years in prison for abuse of power and aiding the enemy. The court found that Yoon conspired from the outset in a secret drone operation over Pyongyang in October 2024, aiming to incite North Korea into hostile actions and create a pretext for his December 2024 martial law declaration. Special prosecutor Cho Eun-suk had requested a 30-year term at a hearing in April.

“The defendants decided to use psychological warfare tactics to incite North Korea, provoke an armed local conflict, or create a national security crisis through heightened military tensions.”

Co-defendants sentenced

Alongside Yoon, former Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun received a 30-year sentence, exceeding the 25 years sought by prosecutors. Former Defense Counterintelligence Command chief Yeo In-hyung was given 15 years. Kim Yong-dae, former head of the Drone Operations Command, received a three-year prison term suspended for five years, as he cooperated with investigators and admitted most of his wrongdoing, according to the Korea Herald. The court concluded that Yoon and his allies used the country's military for personal political goals.

The drone operation and martial law

North Korea accused South Korea of flying drones over Pyongyang to drop propaganda leaflets three times in October 2024. At the time, defense minister Kim Yong Hyun issued a vague denial, and the Defense Ministry said it could neither confirm nor deny the allegations. Tensions rose sharply but no military clashes occurred.

Yoon declared martial law late on December 3, 2024, in a televised address accusing liberal lawmakers of being North Korea-sympathizing "anti-state" forces. The measure lasted about six hours before lawmakers broke through a police and army blockade at the National Assembly and voted to overturn it.

Yoon's legal journey

Yoon was quickly suspended, impeached, and formally removed by the Constitutional Court. He was arrested in July 2025. In February 2026, the same court sentenced him to life in prison for leading an insurrection linked to the martial law attempt. He is appealing that sentence, and prosecutors had sought the death penalty. His removal triggered a snap election won by liberal candidate Lee Jae Myung.

Defense and appeals

Yoon's lawyers argued the drone flights were a response to months of North Korean provocations, including thousands of trash-carrying balloons launched across the border earlier in 2024. They said he neither ordered nor approved the operation and that it was unrelated to martial law.

“A guilty verdict would undermine South Korea's security interests.”

Both Yoon and his co-defendants have already appealed Friday's ruling.