Seoul, 19 Feb : A Seoul court has sentenced former South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol to life imprisonment after finding him guilty of leading an insurrection through his brief but dramatic attempt to impose martial law in December 2024 — a move judges said struck at the heart of the country’s constitutional order.
The ruling, delivered by Judge Ji Gwi-yeon at the Seoul Central District Court, concluded that Yoon’s decision to deploy military forces around the National Assembly of South Korea amounted to a calculated effort to disable the legislature. The panel described him as the “insurrectionist leader,” stating that his actions “fundamentally damaged South Korea’s democracy” and warranted severe punishment.
Prosecutors had pressed for the death penalty, but the court opted for life imprisonment. South Korea has not carried out executions since 1997, making a life sentence effectively the maximum enforceable punishment.
A Night That Shook Seoul
On the evening of December 3, 2024, Yoon stunned the nation by declaring martial law during a live televised address. He justified the move as necessary to counter what he described as “anti-state forces” aligned with North Korea. Within hours, however, lawmakers forced their way into the assembly chamber to nullify the order, prompting Yoon to rescind the declaration.
The court found that the deployment of troops was intended to “paralyse” parliamentary proceedings and prevent elected representatives from exercising their constitutional authority. While judges determined there was insufficient proof that the plan had been prepared a year in advance, they ruled that the execution of the order itself constituted an insurrection.
Defence and Denial
Throughout the proceedings, Yoon maintained that he acted within the powers granted to the presidency, arguing that the declaration was meant to preserve national sovereignty and protect the constitution. His legal team challenged the verdict as politically influenced, insisting the evidence did not support the charges.
Yoon has also been convicted in separate cases related to abuse of power and obstruction of justice connected to his attempted arrest. Three additional trials tied to the crisis remain pending.
Political Fallout
The failed martial law decree plunged Asia’s fourth-largest economy into months of political instability. The opposition-led Democratic Party of Korea initiated impeachment proceedings days after the incident. Yoon was formally removed from office by the Constitutional Court of Korea in April.
Reactions to Thursday’s verdict reflected the country’s deep political divisions. Supporters rallied outside the courthouse, some carrying placards urging his political return, while critics demanded capital punishment. The Democratic Party said the ruling failed to fully meet public expectations, arguing that the former president’s actions had shaken the nation’s democratic foundations.
From Prosecutor to Prisoner
Born in Seoul in 1960, Yoon built his reputation as a hard-charging prosecutor. He gained national prominence for his role in the conviction of former president Park Geun-hye on corruption charges. Running as the candidate of the conservative People Power Party, he narrowly won the 2022 presidential election by less than one percentage point.
His presidency was marked by polarising rhetoric on gender issues, a confrontational approach toward North Korea, and mounting domestic controversies — including allegations involving his wife, Kim Keon-hee, and criticism over the government’s response to the 2022 Seoul Halloween crowd crush.
What Comes Next
Both the prosecution and the defence have the right to appeal. Should either side challenge the ruling, the case will proceed to the Supreme Court, potentially prolonging legal uncertainty for months.
South Korea has previously jailed former presidents only to see them pardoned after serving a few years. Whether Yoon’s case will follow that precedent remains uncertain, but the court’s language underscored the gravity of the moment — describing the episode as “an insurrection from the top” that tested the resilience of one of Asia’s most vibrant democracies.
