Former South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol has been sentenced to life imprisonment for masterminding an insurrection by trying to impose military rule.
The Seoul Central District Court found the ousted leader guilty of leading an insurrection and rebellion following his brief and chaotic attempt to impose military rule in December 2024.
The presiding judge, Jee Kui-youn, stated that Yoon’s actions were an illegal attempt to seize unchecked power, mobilize military forces against the National Assembly, and subvert the nation’s democratic constitutional order.
”The defendant proactively planned an offense that resulted in enormous social costs,” Judge Ji said as he sentenced former South Korean President to life imprisonment. “It is difficult to find any indication that the defendant has expressed remorse.”
While special prosecutors had sought the death penalty, the court opted for life imprisonment. The Judge noted that while the crime was “grave,” the lack of casualties and the “lack of meticulous planning” during the six-hour crisis factored into the decision to avoid capital punishment.
Former prime minister Han Duck-soo was handed a 23-year jail term last month for his part in the insurrection, while ex-defence minister Kim Yong-hyun, who advised Yoon to impose martial law, was jailed for 30 years on Thursday.
Former interior minister Lee Sang-min, former intelligence commander Roh Sang-won, and ex-police chief Cho Ji-ho were among the other officials jailed for what judges have described as “an insurrection from the top”.
Recall that Yoon broke into late-night TV on December 3, 2024, to deliver a shock address to the nation.
Pointing to vague threats of North Korean influence and dangerous “anti-state forces”, he declared the suspension of civilian government and the start of military rule.
Martial law was lifted six hours later after lawmakers raced to the assembly building to hold an emergency vote.
Though it was short-lived, Yoon’s martial law order left the nation more polarised than ever, and those deep divisions were on full display as the sentencing took place.
