Ex-South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol Sentenced to Life Imprisonment Over 2024 Martial Law Crisis

South Korea’s former president, Yoon Suk Yeol, has been sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of leading an insurrection linked to his declaration of martial law in 2024.

Delivering the verdict on Thursday, presiding judge Ji Gwi-yeon said the court had established Yoon’s direct responsibility for the uprising triggered by the controversial decision.

“As to defendant Yoon Suk Yeol, the crime of insurrection leadership is established,” the judge ruled. “We sentence Yoon to life imprisonment.”

The court held that the former leader’s declaration of martial law resulted in “enormous social costs,” adding that there was no indication of remorse from Yoon throughout the trial.

Yoon, 65, had consistently denied the charges, insisting that the martial law proclamation fell within his constitutional powers and was intended to prevent opposition lawmakers from obstructing government operations.

Prior to Thursday’s ruling, the Seoul Central District Court had determined that Yoon was the central figure behind the December 3, 2024 insurrection. Prosecutors had sought the death penalty, arguing that his actions constituted a direct assault on South Korea’s लोकत democratic order.

The court also found that the martial law declaration led to an attempt by the military to seize the National Assembly in December 2024an event that ultimately resulted in Yoon’s impeachment and removal from office.

His life sentence marks one of the most severe punishments ever handed down to a former South Korean leader, closing a landmark case in the country’s political and judicial history.