A South Korean appeals court on Wednesday sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to seven years in prison on charges including resisting arrest and bypassing legitimate Cabinet procedures.

The sentence relates to events surrounding Yoon's brief imposition of martial law in December 2024, which ultimately led to his removal from office. The appeals court found Yoon guilty of resisting arrest and circumventing proper Cabinet meeting protocols prior to declaring martial law.

The appeals court's decision represents an increase from a previous jail term, though the exact details of the earlier sentence were not specified in court documents. Yoon was ousted from the presidency following the controversial martial law declaration that lasted only briefly.

Separately, reports indicate that Kim Keon Hee, Yoon's wife, received a 20-month prison sentence in January for accepting gifts from the Unification Church in exchange for political favors, though this appears to be a distinct legal proceeding.

The martial law episode marked a significant political crisis in South Korea, with Yoon's actions drawing widespread criticism and ultimately resulting in his removal from office through impeachment proceedings. The seven-year sentence reflects the court's view of the severity of the charges against the former president.