A South Korean court on Thursday sentenced former president Yoon Suk Yeol to life imprisonment after convicting him of leading an insurrection through his controversial declaration of martial law in December 2024.
Delivering judgment at the Seoul Central District Court, presiding judge Ji Gwi-yeon ruled that Yoon’s actions amounted to an attempt to paralyse the National Assembly and silence political opposition.
“The court finds that the intention was to paralyse the assembly for a considerable period,” Judge Ji said. “The declaration of martial law resulted in enormous social costs, and it is difficult to find any indication that the defendant has expressed remorse.”
Under South Korean law, insurrection carries only two possible penalties: life imprisonment or death. Although prosecutors sought the death penalty, the country has maintained an unofficial moratorium on executions since 1997, effectively making life imprisonment the harshest enforceable punishment.
Yoon, 65, a conservative leader, was impeached, arrested and charged with multiple offences including insurrection and obstruction of justice following the failed martial law bid.
Martial Law Declaration
On December 3, 2024, Yoon addressed the nation in a late-night televised speech, declaring martial law and suspending civilian governance. He justified the move as necessary to root out what he described as “anti-state forces” within the National Assembly and to counter alleged North Korean influence.
The measure lasted only six hours. Lawmakers rushed to the assembly building, where staff barricaded entrances with furniture to prevent armed troops from entering. An emergency vote led to the swift lifting of martial law.
The dramatic move triggered protests, rattled financial markets and surprised key allies, including the United States. South Korea, widely regarded as one of Asia’s most stable democracies, was reminded of the military coups that shaped its political landscape between the 1960s and 1980s.
Court Findings and Public Reaction
Prosecutors argued that Yoon’s declaration was driven by a “lust for power aimed at dictatorship and long-term rule.” The court agreed that the deployment of troops to the National Assembly constituted an effort to suppress legislative authority.
Thousands of supporters gathered outside the courthouse ahead of the verdict, holding placards reading “Yoon Great Again” and calling for the charges to be dropped. Heavy police presence surrounded the complex, with buses positioned to form barricades against potential unrest.
Yoon has denied wrongdoing throughout the proceedings, insisting he acted to “safeguard freedom” and restore constitutional order against what he termed an opposition-led “legislative dictatorship.”
Co-Defendants and Related Cases
Former defence minister Kim Yong-hyun was sentenced to 30 years in prison for his role in the crisis. Several senior officials connected to the martial law episode are also facing lengthy prison terms.
In a separate case earlier this year, Yoon’s wife, Kim Keon Hee, received a 20-month jail sentence on unrelated bribery charges stemming from her time as first lady.
Yoon, who has been held in solitary confinement while facing multiple criminal trials, had already received a five-year sentence on lesser charges prior to Thursday’s ruling.
The life sentence marks a dramatic fall for the former head of state and represents one of the most consequential legal reckonings in South Korea’s modern democratic history.
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