Former South Korean President Yoon Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison in Drone Infiltration Case into North Korea

JAKARTA - The Seoul Court, South Korea on Friday sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to 30 years in prison after being found guilty of ordering drone infiltration into North Korea, in an attempt to increase cross-border tensions and create a basis for a military emergency declaration in December 2024.

The Seoul Central District Court sentenced the jailed former president on charges of benefiting enemies and abuse of power in its ruling that followed the sentencing recommendation of Special Prosecutor Cho Eun-suk.

The court acknowledged that Yoon ordered the operation in October 2024 to provoke Pyongyang and used the anticipated increase in cross-border tensions as an excuse for a military emergency declaration on December 3, The Korea Times reported (12/6).

Meanwhile, Yoon's legal team vowed to appeal, expressing deep regret over the ruling.

Yoon's legal team argued that the deployment of the drone was a legitimate military operation in response to North Korea's launch of a garbage-carrying balloon into South Korea in 2024.

In addition to Yoon, the court also sentenced former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun to 30 years in prison for his role in the operation, higher than the 25 years demanded by the special prosecutor.

The court also sentenced Yeo In-hyung, former head of the Defense Counter Intelligence Command, to 15 years in prison for his involvement in the operation, while Kim Yong-dae, former head of the Drone Operations Command, received a three-year suspended sentence for five years.

"To create a state of military emergency, the defendants decided to use military tactics of psychological warfare to incite North Korea and trigger provocations, and use them to trigger armed provocations, such as local conflicts, or create a national security crisis situation caused by increased military tensions," the court said.

The court said the actions amounted to "betraying" the public's hope that the president and defense minister would only use military force for legitimate purposes, adding there was a personal motive behind the operation.

The court ruled that the operation damaged South Korea's security interests by exposing its military assets to North Korea and, as a result, strengthened North Korea's military readiness.

It is known that Pyongyang accused Seoul of infiltrating drones and dropping propaganda leaflets over the North Korean capital in October 2024.

The then South Korean Defense Minister, Kim, initially denied the North Korean allegations. The Ministry of Defense later said they could not confirm or deny the allegations.

Friday's ruling marks the latest conviction for Yoon, who is currently in custody and faces several trials related to his failed attempt to impose martial law.

In February, he was sentenced to life imprisonment for leading the rebellion through his military emergency declaration. He has appealed the ruling.