Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been sentenced to life imprisonment after a court found him guilty of rebellion over his brief declaration of martial law, marking the climax of one of South Korea’s most severe political crises in decades.
The Seoul court ruled that Yoon illegally mobilised military and police forces in an attempt to seize control of the opposition-dominated National Assembly, arrest political figures and consolidate unchecked executive authority for a significant period. Judge Jee Kui-youn said the actions constituted rebellion because they directly threatened the constitutional order and democratic governance of the country.
The crisis began on December 3, 2024, when Yoon declared martial law amid escalating conflict with a legislature controlled by liberal opposition parties. Troops were deployed to surround the National Assembly, but lawmakers managed to enter the building despite the military blockade and unanimously voted to revoke the decree roughly six hours later, forcing its withdrawal.
Prosecutors had sought the death penalty, arguing that the attempt endangered South Korea’s democracy. The court instead imposed a life sentence, a decision widely expected given that the failed power grab did not result in casualties. South Korea has not carried out an execution since 1997 and is considered to have an unofficial moratorium on capital punishment.
Yoon is expected to appeal the verdict. He has consistently defended his actions, claiming martial law was necessary to counter what he described as “anti-state” forces obstructing his administration through parliamentary dominance.
The ruling follows a series of legal setbacks for the former president. He was impeached by lawmakers on December 14, 2024, formally removed from office by the Constitutional Court in April 2025, and has remained in custody since July while facing multiple criminal cases. Earlier, he received a separate five-year sentence for resisting arrest and procedural violations linked to the martial law declaration, including bypassing a mandatory full Cabinet meeting.
Several senior officials involved in the episode were also convicted. Former Defence Minister Kim Yong Hyun received a 30-year prison term for planning and executing the military mobilisation, while former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo was sentenced to 23 years for attempting to legitimise the decree and falsifying records. Both cases are under appeal.
The verdict represents an unprecedented legal reckoning for a former South Korean leader and underscores the country’s strong judicial response to actions seen as undermining democratic institutions.
