SEOUL, South Korea — Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was sentenced to life in prison on Thursday for his attempt to impose martial law in December 2024, a move that triggered a major political crisis and ultimately led to his removal from office. The sentencing marks a dramatic culmination to a period of intense political turmoil in South Korea.
Yoon’s downfall began with a controversial decision to declare martial law on , deploying troops to surround the National Assembly in an apparent effort to circumvent the opposition-controlled legislature. The move was widely condemned as an assault on democratic principles.
Judge Jee Kui-youn of the Seoul Central District Court found Yoon guilty of rebellion, stating that he had mobilized military and police forces in an illegal attempt to seize control of the Assembly, arrest politicians, and establish unchecked power for a “considerable” time. The court determined that Yoon’s actions exceeded his constitutional authority, even under the framework of martial law.
Echoes of South Korea’s Authoritarian Past
Yoon’s imposition of martial law was the first such instance in over four decades, evoking memories of South Korea’s past military-backed governments. Throughout its history, South Korea has experienced periods where emergency decrees were used to justify the deployment of troops and restrictions on civil liberties, often in response to perceived threats to national security or political stability.
As lawmakers rushed to the National Assembly, Yoon’s martial law command issued a proclamation granting sweeping powers, including the suspension of political activities, control over the media, and the authority to make arrests without warrants. However, the decree was short-lived, lasting only approximately six hours.
A quorum of lawmakers successfully defied a military blockade and convened within the National Assembly, voting unanimously to lift the martial law measure. This act of defiance proved pivotal in thwarting Yoon’s attempt to consolidate power.
Yoon was suspended from office on , following his impeachment by the National Assembly. The Constitutional Court formally removed him from office in . He was arrested in July 2024 and has been facing multiple criminal trials, with the rebellion charge carrying the most severe potential punishment.
Legal Challenges and Reactions
Yoon Kap-keun, one of the former president’s lawyers, denounced the verdict as “predetermined,” arguing that it was based solely on the prosecution’s arguments and that the “rule of law” had been compromised. He indicated that the legal team would discuss the possibility of an appeal with Yoon.
During the trial, Yoon maintained that the martial law decree was intended solely to raise public awareness regarding what he perceived as obstructionist tactics by the liberal opposition, and that he was prepared to respect the outcome of a parliamentary vote on the measure. However, prosecutors argued that his actions clearly demonstrated an attempt to disable the legislature and prevent lawmakers from exercising their constitutional rights.
Judge Jee emphasized that the decision to deploy troops to the National Assembly was a key factor in his determination that Yoon’s actions constituted rebellion. “This court finds that the purpose of (Yoon’s) actions was to send troops to the National Assembly, block the Assembly building and arrest key figures, including the National Assembly speaker and the leaders of both the ruling and opposition parties, in order to prevent lawmakers from gathering to deliberate or vote,” Jee stated. “It’s sufficiently established that he intended to obstruct or paralyze the Assembly’s activities so that it would be unable to properly perform its functions for a considerable period of time.”
Public Response and Further Convictions
The sentencing sparked a range of reactions from the public. Supporters of Yoon rallied outside the courthouse, while critics demanded the maximum penalty. There were no immediate reports of widespread clashes following the announcement of the verdict.
While prosecutors had initially sought the death penalty for Yoon, a life sentence was widely anticipated, given the lack of casualties resulting from the poorly planned power grab. South Korea has maintained a de facto moratorium on capital punishment since 1997, with no executions carried out amid growing calls for its abolition.
Several former military and police officials involved in enforcing Yoon’s martial law decree were also convicted and sentenced. Kim Yong Hyun, the former Defense Minister, received a 30-year prison term for his central role in planning the measure and mobilizing the military.
In a separate case last month, Yoon was sentenced to five years in prison for resisting arrest, fabricating the martial law proclamation, and circumventing a legally mandated full Cabinet meeting before declaring the decree. Two members of Yoon’s Cabinet, including Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, have also been convicted in related cases. Han received a 23-year prison sentence for attempting to legitimize the decree through a Cabinet Council meeting, falsifying records, and providing false testimony. Han has appealed the verdict.
Yoon is the first former South Korean president to receive a life sentence since Chun Doo-hwan, a former military dictator who was sentenced to death in 1996 for his 1979 coup and the brutal suppression of pro-democracy protests in Gwangju in 1980. Chun’s sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment, and he was released under a special presidential pardon in 1997. He died in 2021.
