A Seoul court has sentenced former South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol to life in prison after he was convicted of leading a rebellion for briefly declaring martial law in late 2024.
The judge at the Seoul Central Court announced the verdict, stating that the court found the former conservative president guilty of attempting to seize power, a decision that spared him the death penalty sought by the prosecution.
The case dates back to the evening of December 3, 2024, when Yoon unexpectedly announced the imposition of martial law and ordered the military to storm the National Assembly. However, several lawmakers managed to enter the building despite the military cordon and voted against the exceptional measures, forcing the then-president to backtrack.
Although the suspension of civilian rule lasted only about six hours, the move triggered a prolonged political crisis in the country, which ultimately led to Yoon’s impeachment in April 2025, before he later appeared in court in custody.
The same court is expected to issue additional rulings against other defendants in the case, including former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, regarding their roles in the events that shook the political landscape in South Korea.
