A Seoul court sentenced former South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol to life in prison on Wednesday after finding him guilty of leading an insurrection through his declaration of martial law in December 2024. Judge Jee Kui-youn of Seoul Central Court ruled that Yoon had mobilized military and police forces in an illegal attempt to seize the liberal-led National Assembly, arrest politicians, and establish unchecked power. The verdict marks the first time in three decades that South Korea has sentenced a former leader for rebellion.
The case stems from Yoon's dramatic late-night televised address on December 3, 2024, in which he declared martial law and accused opposition lawmakers of engaging in anti-state activities and colluding with North Korean sympathizers. Armed soldiers descended on the National Assembly building by helicopter and attempted to storm the chamber where lawmakers had gathered. However, 190 of the 300 National Assembly members managed to reach the building and voted unanimously to overturn the decree, forcing Yoon to lift martial law roughly six hours after imposing it.
Prosecutors had sought the death penalty for Yoon, arguing that his martial law declaration posed an existential threat to South Korean democracy and warranted the most severe punishment available under the law. The court ultimately rejected the death sentence in favor of life imprisonment, though Judge Jee stated that Yoon's actions had fundamentally damaged the constitutional order of one of Asia's most vibrant democracies. Yoon, who is 65 years old, had defended his actions as necessary measures to protect the nation from what he described as anti-state forces within the opposition.
Several co-defendants received substantial prison terms alongside Yoon. Former Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun, who played a central role in planning and executing the military mobilization, received a 30-year sentence. Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo received 23 years for his part in attempting to legitimize the martial law decree, falsifying records, and committing perjury. Han has indicated he intends to appeal. Yoon himself faces an additional five-year sentence from a separate conviction for resisting arrest and fabricating documents.
The timeline of Yoon's downfall unfolded rapidly after the failed martial law attempt. He was suspended from presidential duties on December 14, 2024, and formally removed from office by the Constitutional Court in April 2025. His arrest followed in July 2025, leading to months of legal proceedings that culminated in the life sentence. Supporters and opponents of the former president gathered outside the Seoul Central Court on the day of the verdict, with some rallying in his defense and others demanding even harsher punishment.
The ruling carries profound implications for South Korean politics and the broader question of democratic accountability in the region. Legal analysts noted that while South Korea has a history of prosecuting former presidents — including previous convictions of Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo in the 1990s — the severity of Yoon's sentence reflects the gravity with which the judiciary views threats to the democratic order. Yoon is widely expected to appeal the verdict, and the case is likely to remain a defining political issue in South Korea for years to come.
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