Career Timeline of Yoon Suk Yeol: Major Achievements and Milestones
Discover the career path of Yoon Suk Yeol, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.
Yoon Suk Yeol is a South Korean politician and attorney who served as the 13th president of South Korea from 2022 until his removal from office in 2025. As a member of the People Power Party during his presidency, he holds the distinction of being the shortest-serving directly elected president in South Korea's democratic history since 1987. Before becoming president, Yoon served as the prosecutor general of South Korea from 2019 to 2021.
3 hours ago : Yoon Suk Yeol, South Korean ex-president, receives life sentence for insurrection and martial law.
Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol receives a life sentence for leading an insurrection and imposing martial law. The court found him guilty.
1991: Yoon Passed the Bar Exam
In 1991, Yoon Suk Yeol passed the bar exam after multiple attempts, placing him in the same graduating class as Democratic Party Assemblyman Park Beom-kye.
1994: Yoon Started Career at Daegu Public Prosecutor's Office
In 1994, Yoon Suk Yeol started his career at Daegu Public Prosecutor's Office, heading the Special Branch and Central Investigation Department.
1999: Yoon Ordered Arrest of Police Assistant Commissioner
In 1999, Yoon Suk Yeol ordered the arrest of Police Assistant Commissioner Park Hui-won, who was corrupt despite strong objections from bureaucrats.
January 2002: Yoon Worked as a Lawyer at Bae, Kim & Lee
In January 2002, Yoon Suk Yeol worked briefly as a lawyer at Bae, Kim & Lee but left because he felt the position was unsuitable.
2006: Yoon Apprehended Chung Mong-koo
In 2006, Yoon Suk Yeol apprehended Chung Mong-koo for his complicity in a slush fund case at Hyundai Motor Company.
2008: Yoon Worked on BBK Incident
In 2008, Yoon Suk Yeol worked for the independent counsel team resolving the BBK incident related to President Lee Myung-bak.
2013: Yoon Led Investigation into NIS Scandal
In 2013, Yoon Suk Yeol led a special investigation team that looked into the National Intelligence Service (NIS)'s involvement in the 2012 NIS public opinion manipulation scandal.
December 2016: Impeachment of President Park Geun-hye
In December 2016, the investigation into the Choi Soon-sil scandal, in which Yoon was a part of, led to the impeachment of then-president Park Geun-hye.
May 2017: Yoon Appointed Chief of Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office
On 19 May 2017, Yoon Suk Yeol was appointed chief of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office by the newly elected president Moon Jae-in.
2017: Hong Joon-pyo's Presidential Nomination
In 2017, Hong Joon-pyo was the nominee for PPP predecessor Liberty Korea Party in the presidential election.
June 2019: Yoon Nominated as Prosecutor General
On 17 June 2019, Yoon Suk Yeol was nominated as prosecutor general, replacing Moon Moo-il. His nomination was welcomed by the Democratic Party and the Party for Democracy and Peace.
2019: Yoon Suk Yeol Served as Prosecutor General
From 2019, Yoon Suk Yeol served as the prosecutor general of South Korea.
January 2020: Yoon Considered Potential Presidential Candidate
Since January 2020, Yoon Suk Yeol had been considered a potential presidential candidate for the 2022 presidential election after the Cho Kuk controversies.
April 2020: Democratic Party Attacked Yoon
In April 2020, Democratic Party lawmakers attacked Yoon Suk Yeol and called on him to resign after the prosecution started investigations into election law violation cases.
November 2020: Yoon Suspended from Position as Prosecutor General
On 24 November 2020, Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae suspended Yoon Suk Yeol from his position, citing alleged ethical violations, abuse of power, and interference in investigations. Yoon filed an injunction which was temporarily approved.
January 2021: Yoon Led Presidential Candidate Polls
In a January 2021 poll including all possible presidential candidates, Yoon Suk Yeol led as the most favored with 30.4 percent of the vote.
March 2021: Yoon Resigned as Prosecutor General
In March 2021, Yoon Suk Yeol tendered his resignation as the prosecutor general, which was accepted by President Moon.
June 2021: Yoon Announced Presidential Candidacy
On 29 June 2021, Yoon Suk Yeol announced his candidacy in the 2022 presidential election.
June 2021: Yoon Announced Candidacy for Presidential Election
On 29 June 2021, Yoon Suk Yeol officially announced his candidacy in the 2022 presidential election.
July 2021: Yoon Joined People Power Party
On 30 July 2021, Yoon Suk Yeol officially joined the conservative People Power Party (PPP).
September 2021: Call for Redeployment of Tactical Nuclear Weapons
In September 2021, Yoon Suk Yeol stated that he would ask the United States to redeploy tactical nuclear weapons in South Korea if there is a threat from North Korea. This proposal was rejected by the U.S.
November 2021: Openness to THAAD Missile Deployments
In November 2021, Yoon Suk Yeol indicated that he would be open to more U.S. THAAD missile deployments in South Korea.
November 2021: People Power Party Presidential Nomination
On November 5, 2021, Yoon Suk Yeol officially secured the People Power Party's nomination for the 2022 presidential election, winning 47.85% of the votes after a four-day voting period. On November 7, 2021, Yoon pledged to pardon former presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye if elected.
2021: Yoon Suk-yeol elected president
In 2021, Yoon Suk-yeol was elected president of South Korea, marking a shift towards right-wing and conservative politics. His professional history already showed abuse of power.
2021: Yoon's Resignation as Prosecutor General
Prior to his resignation as prosecutor general in 2021, Yoon's clashes with the Moon administration led to his rise as a potential presidential candidate.
2021: Yoon Suk Yeol Served as Prosecutor General
Until 2021, Yoon Suk Yeol served as the prosecutor general of South Korea.
March 2022: Yoon Wins 2022 Presidential Election
In March 2022, Yoon Suk Yeol narrowly won the presidential election with 48.56% of the votes, defeating Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae Myung. The election was the closest in South Korean history.
March 2022: Yoon Defeated Lee Jae Myung in Election
On 9 March 2022, Yoon Suk Yeol narrowly defeated Democratic Party nominee Lee Jae Myung in the presidential election.
August 2022: Yoon unveils plan for North Korea
On August 15, 2022, marking the National Liberation Day of Korea, Yoon Suk Yeol unveiled a plan that could include a "large-scale food program", as well as plans to improve North Korea air and sea ports, enhance agricultural productivity, strengthen health care infrastructure and attract foreign investment on the condition North Korea takes "genuine and substantive" moves towards denuclearization.
November 2022: Yoon promotes cooperation with Africa
In November 2022, President Yoon Suk Yeol, in his welcoming speech to the Africa Night held in Seoul, stated that "Africa is a land of new opportunity", indicating his intention to strengthen cooperation with Africa. The event was attended by African ambassadors and nominees from 31 countries, and President William Ruto of Kenya.
2022: Yoon Suk Yeol Became President of South Korea
In 2022, Yoon Suk Yeol became the 13th president of South Korea.
2022: Yoon Pursued Friendlier Relations with Japan and the United States
In 2022, during his presidency, Yoon Suk Yeol pursued friendlier relations with Japan and the United States, and has been described as hawkish toward North Korea. His handling of the Seoul Halloween crowd crush in 2022 and the medical crisis has attracted criticism.
2022: Yoon Announced Candidacy for Presidential Election
On 29 June 2021, Yoon Suk Yeol officially announced his candidacy in the 2022 presidential election.
2022: Won PPP Presidential Nomination
On November 5, 2021, Yoon Suk Yeol officially secured the People Power Party's nomination for the 2022 presidential election.
2022: Yoon considered potential presidential candidate
Yoon Suk Yeol had been considered a potential presidential candidate for the 2022 presidential election ever since the aftermath of the Cho Kuk controversies
April 2023: Yoon's Visit to the U.S.
In April 2023, Yoon Suk Yeol and First Lady Kim Keon Hee visited Washington, D.C., at the invitation of Kevin McCarthy and Chuck Schumer, commemorating 70 years of the alliance between South Korea and the United States. Yoon addressed the U.S. Congress on April 27, emphasizing the strong relationship between the two nations.
April 2023: Yoon hints at lethal aid to Ukraine
In a Reuters interview on April 19, 2023, Yoon Suk Yeol hinted at supplying lethal aid to Ukraine, stating that South Korea might find it difficult to insist only on humanitarian or financial support in the event of any large-scale attack on civilians, massacre or serious violation of the laws of war.
May 2023: Yoon attends G7 summit
In May 2023, Yoon Suk Yeol attended the G7 summit, where he met with leaders of the Quad nations. He called for addressing regional challenges and providing infrastructure and development assistance, while emphasizing South Korea's commitment to international law and support for Ukraine's freedom.
August 2023: South Korea increases financial aid to Ukraine
In August 2023, Yoon Suk Yeol announced that South Korea would provide $394 million in financial aid to Ukraine for 2024, an eightfold increase from 2023.
August 2023: Yoon, Kishida and Biden meet at Camp David
On August 18, 2023, Yoon Suk Yeol and Kishida met with Biden at Camp David in the United States. The three announced the Camp David Principles, a set of strategies to counter the influence of China, North Korea, and Russia as well as limit the risk of economic disruptions in the future.
November 2023: South Korea suspends participation in Comprehensive Agreement Pact
In November 2023, Yoon Suk Yeol's government suspended South Korea's participation in the Comprehensive Agreement Pact – a pact aimed at lowering tensions between South and North Korea – after North Korea launched a satellite into space.
December 2023: Yoon's International Trips
As of December 2023, Yoon Suk Yeol had made trips to twenty-six countries during his tenure, engaging with fellow leaders at summits such as NATO, APEC, G20, and G7.
July 2024: Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Wins Czech Tender
On July 17, 2024, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power secured a tender for the construction of two new units at the Dukovany Nuclear Power Station in the Czech Republic. Yoon Suk Yeol viewed this project as a stepping stone for further nuclear industry export opportunities.
August 2024: Yoon outlines policy on Korean reunification
On August 15, 2024, Yoon Suk Yeol outlined his policy on Korean reunification, calling for a "unified Republic of Korea". It was seen as South Korea's most explicit policy statement to date in support of unification by absorption, referring to unifying the Korean Peninsula under the Republic of Korea.
November 2024: Yoon suggests potential arms supply to Ukraine
On 7 November 2024, Yoon Suk Yeol suggested that South Korea could provide weapons to Ukraine. However, the South Korean public was widely opposed to direct arms supplies to Ukraine.
December 2024: Yoon Declared Martial Law
On 3 December 2024, Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law in South Korea, accusing members of the National Assembly of supporting North Korea, but lifted it after the Assembly passed an emergency motion nullifying the declaration. An impeachment motion was introduced against Yoon the next day.
2024: Law Outlawing Dog Meat Trade
In 2024, a law outlawing the trade and consumption of dog meat in South Korea was passed under Yoon Suk Yeol's presidency.
2024: Yoon's Party Suffered Defeat in Parliamentary Elections
In the 2024 parliamentary midterm elections, Yoon Suk Yeol's party suffered a defeat, which weakened his political power.
January 2025: Yoon Suk Yeol Arrested and Incarcerated
In January 2025, Yoon Suk Yeol became the first sitting president in South Korean history to be arrested and incarcerated.
2025: Yoon Suk Yeol Removed From Office
In 2025, Yoon Suk Yeol was removed from his presidential office.
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