South Korea’s former president, Yoon Suk-yeol, has been sentenced to life imprisonment after being found guilty of orchestrating an insurrection during his declaration of martial law in December 2024. The Seoul Central District Court’s ruling marks an unprecedented moment in the nation’s modern political history.
Judge Jee Kui-youn, delivering the verdict, emphasized that Yoon “led an insurrection and committed acts aimed at subverting the constitutional order of the country.” While prosecutors had sought the death penalty, the court imposed life imprisonment, citing the scale and premeditation of Yoon’s actions. The verdict was broadcast live on major South Korean networks, underscoring the public significance of the trial.
According to the court, Yoon did not act alone. The ruling detailed that he “took the lead in planning the crime and involved a large number of people,” while showing “no sign of remorse” and repeatedly refusing to appear in court.
Evidence presented at trial indicated that Yoon had directed South Korea’s military to detain specific individuals, including the sitting president, Lee Jae Myung. He also intended to immobilize parliament by deploying troops to the National Assembly and arrest key lawmakers.
Five others faced sentencing in connection with the failed martial law initiative. Former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun received a 30-year sentence, while other senior officials—including former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min—received 23-year and seven-year sentences, respectively.
The defendants have one week to appeal the verdict.
The events stemmed from Yoon’s late-night address on December 3, 2024, when he declared martial law, the first in South Korea in 44 years. Yoon claimed the opposition Democratic Party of Korea was engaging in “anti-state activities” and colluding with North Korean agents. Troops were dispatched to the National Assembly, and clashes erupted between security forces and protesters outside the compound.
Then-Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun reportedly ordered soldiers to detain individuals within the Assembly building. Despite the show of force, the martial law order was effectively overturned within three hours, when 190 of 300 lawmakers convened and unanimously voted against it. Yoon lifted martial law roughly six hours after its announcement.
This ruling follows a separate conviction on January 16, when Yoon received a five-year prison sentence for attempting to obstruct his arrest following impeachment and suspension from office. The life sentence reflects a judicial consensus that Yoon’s actions represented a clear and deliberate attempt to seize long-term power by undermining legislative and judicial authority.
Special counsel Cho Eun-suk’s team described Yoon’s maneuver as an effort “to remain in power for a long time by seizing the judiciary and legislature.” Yoon, however, maintained that his declaration was within his constitutional rights and intended to “safeguard freedom and sovereignty.”
The verdict represents a historic moment in South Korean politics, highlighting the judiciary’s role in preserving democratic institutions and setting a legal precedent for holding heads of state accountable for abuses of executive authority.
Yoon Suk-yeol sentencing illustrates the deep fissures in South Korea’s political landscape and the limits of executive power. Analysts suggest the ruling will reverberate through political parties and security institutions for years, shaping public expectations around transparency and accountability in governance.
The broader impact of the case extends beyond legal boundaries. Scholars note that the military’s involvement in civil governance, even temporarily, poses enduring questions about civil-military relations in South Korea. The trial, the first of its kind against a sitting president, reinforces the principle that no official is above the law.
