South Korea’s former President Yoon Suk Yeol has been sentenced to life imprisonment with labor by the Seoul Central District Court for leading an insurrection through his failed December 2024 martial law declaration. The ruling marks the first time a democratically elected South Korean leader faces the maximum penalty, amid prosecutors’ push for the death sentence.
Court Verdict Details
Judge Jee Kui-youn ruled Yoon orchestrated the plot to deploy troops around parliament, detain rivals like opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, and seize the election commission, severely disrupting constitutional order. Despite Yoon’s denials of intent and claims of a “political conspiracy” against opposition “election fraud,” the court found no remorse and highlighted the social costs. Ex-Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun received 30 years, former PM Han Duck-soo 23 years, and ex-Interior Minister Lee Sang-min seven years in related cases.
Broader Context and Appeals
The six-hour standoff on December 3, 2024, posed one of democracy’s gravest threats in South Korea, leading to Yoon’s impeachment, arrest, and removal. Yoon, 65, is expected to appeal within a week; a separate five-year term for obstructing arrest stands. The verdicts signal judicial severity toward the “self-coup” attempt, reshaping accountability for power grabs.
