Seoul: South Korea's ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol has been sentenced to five years in prison for obstructing investigators' attempts to detain him last year.

According to Anadolu Agency, this is the first sentencing in a series of trials that Yoon is facing, including charges related to leading an insurrection following his December 2024 declaration of martial law. The decision comes after a special counsel team, led by Cho Eun-suk, sought a 10-year prison sentence for Yoon, arguing that he committed a significant crime by privatizing state institutions to conceal and justify his actions.

Additionally, special prosecutors have sought the death penalty for Yoon in relation to the insurrection charge, with a court decision on that case expected on February 19. In total, Yoon is facing eight trials linked to his martial law declaration, his wife's alleged corruption, and the 2023 death of a marine officer.

Yoon's legal troubles began when he was arrested and indicted last January on insurrection charges, marking the first time a sitting South Korean president was taken into custody. Although he was briefly released in March, he was rearrested in July and has been detained since then.