Yoon Suk Yeol

As of May 2026, Yoon Suk Yeol, former President of South Korea (2022–2025), has been involved in extensive legal proceedings and controversies, primarily related to his actions during his presidency. He was the first sitting South Korean president to face arrest and imprisonment, with charges including abuse of power, insurrection, and obstruction of justice. In January 2025, Yoon was arrested on charges related to his declaration of martial law in December 2024, which lasted approximately six hours and was widely condemned as an insurrection. He was detained at the Seoul Detention Center and indicted on multiple counts, including leading an insurrection, with subsequent convictions leading to a life sentence in February 2026 (Result 1, Result 4, Result 6). Yoon's legal troubles intensified with allegations of plotting to impose martial law to eliminate political rivals and monopolize power, which investigators concluded was part of a broader scheme to destabilize the constitutional order. He was convicted of leading an insurrection for deploying military forces to the National Assembly, an act deemed equivalent to treason under South Korean law, and sentenced to life imprisonment in February 2026. Additionally, in April 2026, an appellate court increased his sentence to seven years for obstruction of official duties and abuse of authority, notably for infringing on Cabinet members' rights during the martial law declaration (Result 2). Beyond his actions related to martial law, Yoon faced investigations and charges concerning corruption, election interference, and ties to religious groups like the Unification Church. His wife, Kim Keon Hee, was also detained and indicted on bribery charges, marking the first time a presidential couple in South Korea faced incarceration. Yoon has repeatedly denied the allegations, but the courts have upheld multiple convictions, including his life sentence for insurrection and additional sentences for related charges (Result 4). Overall, his post-presidential period has been marked by significant legal accountability for actions taken during his tenure, with ongoing investigations into broader political and criminal misconduct.