Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol Sentenced to Life in Prison Over Martial Law Crisis

A court in Seoul has sentenced former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to life in prison after finding him guilty of leading an insurrection tied to his brief declaration of martial law in December 2024.

Judges concluded that Yoon’s move to impose martial law and deploy military and police forces against the opposition-controlled National Assembly amounted to rebellion. He was accused of trying to paralyze the legislature, arrest political opponents and consolidate unchecked power.

The martial law declaration lasted only a few hours before lawmakers overturned it. Parliament revoked the measure and later impeached Yoon, leading to his removal from office and subsequent arrest.

Yoon has denied wrongdoing, claiming his actions were meant to protect the nation and serve public interest. His legal team criticized the verdict as biased and signaled plans to appeal.

Several former senior military and police officials involved in enforcing the martial law order were also convicted and received long prison sentences. The case marks one of the most significant political crises in South Korea in decades.