A South Korean court sentenced former president Yoon Suk-yeol to life in prison after ruling that he “led a rebellion” when declaring martial law in December 2024.
The Seoul Central District Court today declared that former South Korean president Yoon Suk-yeol committed a crime by mobilizing the military and police in an “illegal effort to seize parliament, arrest politicians, and establish long-term absolute power.”.
“The declaration of martial law caused immense social damage. It is difficult to find any sign that the defendant has shown remorse for it. We sentence Mr. Yoon to life in prison,” Judge Ji Gwi-yeon stated at the trial.
Former president Yoon's lawyer argued that the verdict was not based on evidence in the case and suggested it was a “predetermined script.” He will discuss the possibility of an appeal with his client.
Hundreds of police were deployed to closely monitor a group of Yoon's supporters gathered outside the court. Critics of the former South Korean president also gathered nearby to call for the court to hand down a death sentence.
Special prosecutors had previously requested the death penalty, arguing that Mr. Yoon must face the severest punishment under the law because the former South Korean president's actions “threatened the national democracy.” South Korea has not carried out an execution since 1997.
Last month, Mr. Yoon was sentenced to five years in prison for resisting officials on duty, forging a martial law declaration, and bypassing the law by failing to hold a required cabinet meeting before announcing the measure.
When declaring martial law on December 3, 2024, Mr. Yoon cited a “threat from North Korea,” calling the South Korean parliament a “den of criminals” and “anti-state forces.” He dispatched armed troops to the parliament headquarters to prevent lawmakers from voting to block the martial law order, but the effort failed.
Former president Yoon was arrested during a raid on his residence in January 2025 and was impeached three months later.
Former president Yoon defended the martial law order, arguing it was necessary to stop progressives, whom he described as “treasonous forces,” from using their majority in parliament to obstruct his agendas.
Vu Hoang (According to Yonhap, Reuters)
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