South Korea’s judicial system delivered a landmark judgment on Friday, handing former President Yoon Suk Yeol a five-year prison term for obstructing a detention probe linked to his dramatic martial law declaration. The Seoul Central District Court ruling peels back layers of alleged abuse of power during Yoon’s presidency.

Flashback to December 2024: Yoon’s sudden martial law imposition sent shockwaves through the nation, leading to impeachment talks and investigations. Special prosecutor Cho Yoon-sook’s team painted a picture of a leader privatizing government bodies to conceal crimes and justify his overreach, initially demanding double the sentence handed down.

During the hearing, the bench detailed Yoon’s infractions: directing security forces to halt a warrant execution, sidelining nine ministers from martial law deliberations, crafting a post-lift announcement only to scrap it, issuing misleading media briefs, and wiping communication logs from military secure lines.

Guilty on nearly all fronts except two minor counts, Yoon’s conviction highlights the limits of executive privilege amid probes by the Corruption Investigation Office. This first verdict in his legal odyssey sets the stage for graver proceedings, including a rebellion trial where death is on the table—decision slated for February 19.

With seven more cases pending on corruption, spousal scandals, and military mishaps, Yoon joins a notorious club. Live broadcasts of his sentencing echo the televised downfalls of Park Geun-hye and Lee Myung-bak, signaling South Korea’s unwavering pursuit of justice for its top brass.