Former President of South Korea, Yoon Suk Yeol, has been sentenced to life imprisonment following his brief declaration of martial law, marking a significant climax in one of the nation’s most severe political upheavals in years.
Yoon’s presidency came to an end after he attempted to bypass an opposition-controlled National Assembly by declaring martial law and deploying troops to encircle the legislature on December 3, 2024.
Judge Jee Kui-youn found Yoon guilty of rebellion for unlawfully mobilizing military and police forces in an effort to take control of the liberal-led National Assembly, detain politicians, and establish unchecked authority for an extended period. An appeal against the ruling is anticipated from Yoon.
Death Penalty
A special prosecutor sought the death penalty for Yoon, arguing that his actions threatened democracy in the country and warranted the harshest penalty possible. However, most analysts predict that a life sentence would be the outcome, as the poorly executed power grab did not result in any fatalities.
Since 1997, South Korea has not carried out any executions, which is viewed as a de facto suspension of capital punishment amid ongoing discussions about its abolition.
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As Yoon entered the courtroom, hundreds of police officers were present as his supporters gathered outside the judicial building, their shouts growing louder as the prison transport vehicle carrying him passed by. Critics of Yoon were also present nearby, calling for the death penalty.
The court additionally convicted and sentenced several former military and police officials who played roles in enforcing Yoon’s martial law order, including former Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun, who received a 30-year prison sentence for his pivotal role in orchestrating the action and mobilizing military forces.
Yoon, a firm conservative, has justified his martial law declaration as a necessary measure to prevent liberals, whom he labeled as “anti-state” elements, from hindering his policy goals with their legislative dominance.
Supporters of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol rally outside the Seoul Central District Court in the capital on Thursday. (Ahn Young-joon/The Associated Press)
The martial law decree was in effect for approximately six hours before it was revoked after a quorum of lawmakers successfully breached a military blockade and voted unanimously to annul the order.
Yoon was suspended from his position on December 14, 2024, following his impeachment by lawmakers and was formally ousted by the Constitutional Court in April 2025. He has been in custody since last July, facing multiple criminal charges, with the rebellion charge carrying the most severe potential consequences.
Last month, Yoon received a five-year prison sentence for resisting arrest, fabricating the martial law declaration, and bypassing a legally required full Cabinet meeting prior to issuing the order.
The Seoul Central Court has also found two of Yoon’s Cabinet members guilty in separate matters, including Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who was sentenced to 23 years in prison for attempting to validate the decree by pushing it through a Cabinet Council meeting, falsifying documents, and perjuring himself. Han has filed an appeal against the ruling.