Former South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol has been sentenced to life imprisonment after a court found him guilty of leading an insurrection linked to his declaration of martial law in December 2024.
The judgment was delivered by Judge Jee Kui-youn of the Seoul Central District Court and broadcast live on major South Korean television networks. Prosecutors had sought the death penalty during final submissions in January, but the court imposed a lesser sentence.
In his ruling, the judge said Yoon orchestrated an insurrection aimed at undermining South Korea’s constitutional order, noting that he played a central role in planning the actions and mobilised a large number of people. The court also cited Yoon’s refusal to appear in court and what it described as a lack of remorse.
The court found that Yoon ordered the military to detain individuals during the brief imposition of martial law, including the current president, Lee Jae Myung. He was also said to have intended to paralyse parliament by deploying troops to blockade the National Assembly and arrest senior politicians.
Five other defendants were sentenced alongside Yoon. Former defence minister Kim Yong-hyun received a 30-year prison term. The defendants have one week to file appeals.
The life sentence follows an earlier ruling on January 16, when Yoon was handed a five-year prison term for attempting to obstruct his arrest after being impeached and suspended from office. Other senior officials were also jailed over the failed martial law bid, including former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who was sentenced to 23 years, and former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min, who received seven years.
Yoon made history as the first sitting South Korean president to be arrested, following an operation involving more than 3,000 police officers and a standoff with presidential security forces.
At trial, prosecutors argued that Yoon declared martial law in a bid to cling to power by taking control of the judiciary and legislature. Yoon denied the charges, insisting the move was constitutional and intended to protect national freedom and sovereignty.
He announced South Korea’s first martial law in 44 years during a late-night address on December 3, accusing the then-opposition Democratic Party of Korea of anti-state activities and links to North Korea. Troops were deployed to the National Assembly, sparking clashes between security forces and protesters.
Lawmakers overturned the martial law order within three hours after 190 of the 300 legislators convened and voted unanimously against it. Yoon formally lifted the order about six hours after announcing it. He was impeached 11 days later and removed from office on April 4, 2025.
