Seoul, South Korea. A South Korean court sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to life in prison on Thursday after finding him guilty of masterminding an insurrection linked to his December 2024 attempt to impose martial law.
Verdict and sentencing
Prosecutors had sought the death penalty in the case, which was closely watched in a deeply divided country. The ruling is the most consequential of a series of trials for the ousted leader, whose bid triggered a national political crisis and tested democratic resilience.
Judge Jee Kui-youn told a packed courtroom that Yoon conspired with his then-defence minister, Kim Yong-hyun, to subvert the constitutional order by deploying troops to parliament with the intent to paralyse its functions.
“It is the court’s judgment that sending armed troops to parliament … and using equipment to try to make arrests all constitute acts of insurrection,” Jee said, speaking for a panel of three judges.
Jee said Yoon led a number of officials and troops in criminal activities on December 3, 2024, and that “because of the martial law declaration, an enormous social cost was incurred,” as he handed down the life term.
Co-defendants and reactions
Wearing a dark navy suit without a tie, Yoon, 65, stood ashen-faced as sentences were read out for him and seven other defendants, including Kim, who received 30 years, and former top police officials.
Yoon’s defence team said it would discuss with him whether to appeal the ruling, with one of his lawyers, Yoon Kab-keun, saying it completely ignored the key legal principle of basing findings on evidence.
A lawyer for Kim said the former defence minister would “of course appeal.”
A prosecutor said the team had some “regret” over the sentencing but declined to say whether they planned to appeal.
Historical context cited by the court
Before delivering the verdict, Jee reviewed the long history of treason and insurrection, from the Roman Empire and medieval era to the trial and execution of England’s Charles I for waging war against parliament.
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