South Korean court to rule on ex-President Yoon’s obstruction of justice charges

0 January 16, 2026 01:24

A South Korean court will rule on Friday (Jan 16) on whether former President Yoon Suk Yeol obstructed justice during his failed martial law declaration. Prosecutors accuse him of obstructing officials from executing an arrest warrant and excluding cabinet members from meetings. Yoon denies the charges, claiming his actions were lawful.

This is the first in a series of verdicts for Yoon, who faces several other cases, including an insurrection charge that could lead to a death penalty or life imprisonment. The ruling is significant, but the focus is on the insurrection verdict on Feb 19 which could trigger social unrest.

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