South Korea’s Supreme Court upheld a seven-year prison sentence for former President Yoon Suk Yeol, reaffirming a lower court’s ruling related to his brief declaration of martial law in 2024. The decision marks the first case arising from multiple criminal trials tied to Yoon’s actions during that period to reach the nation’s highest judicial authority.

The court confirmed the April verdict issued by the Seoul High Court, which found Yoon guilty of several charges. These included violating the right of cabinet members to deliberate before imposing martial law, falsifying the official proclamation to conceal procedural lapses, destroying the altered document, and directing presidential security forces to obstruct law enforcement efforts to arrest him following his impeachment.

Martial law under Yoon’s order was short-lived, lasting only a few hours before lawmakers forcibly entered the National Assembly building in Seoul. Lawmakers overcame a blockade formed by heavily armed soldiers and police, and subsequently voted to repeal the measure, compelling Yoon’s cabinet to revoke it.

Yoon, who remains in detention, did not attend the Supreme Court hearing. The latest ruling is final and cannot be appealed further. He continues to face trial on separate charges, including a life sentence imposed for rebellion, which he has formally appealed.