Seoul: A South Korean court on Wednesday increased former President Yoon Suk Yeol's sentence from five to seven years over obstruction of justice and other charges related to his short-lived martial law decree. The Seoul High Court issued the heavier sentence in a live-televised ruling, finding Yoon guilty of obstructing investigators from detaining him in January 2025 over his martial law bid the previous month.

According to Anadolu Agency, special counsel Cho Eun-suk's team had sought a 10-year prison term. The appellate court upheld most of the lower court's findings, including finding Yoon guilty of ordering the deletion of secure phone records and issuing and later discarding a false proclamation after the decree was lifted.

The court also ruled that the rights of two Cabinet members who did not attend the meeting had been violated, overturning the lower court's finding. Additionally, the court reversed Yoon's acquittal on abuse-of-power charges tied to false press statements defending the declaration.

This marks the first ruling by the Seoul High Court's insurrection division in a case over Yoon's martial law. Yoon was removed from office last year after being found guilty of imposing martial law in December 2024. Multiple cases have been filed against him, and he is currently serving a life sentence in connection with the martial law ruling.