Seoul, South Korea – Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was sentenced to life in prison Thursday for leading an insurrection, a landmark ruling that marks a turning point for the nation’s democracy. The Seoul Central District Court found Yoon guilty of abuse of power and attempting to subvert the constitution by declaring martial law in December 2024 and deploying troops toward the National Assembly.
Judge Ji Gwi-yeon, delivering the verdict, stated that Yoon’s actions went beyond a simple declaration of martial law and constituted a deliberate attempt to obstruct the functioning of the legislative body. The court found that the deployment of troops and efforts to control the parliament were acts of violent disruption, intended to paralyze the government.
The sentence, while stopping short of the death penalty sought by prosecutors, is the first time a former South Korean head of state has been convicted of insurrection in nearly three decades. The case echoes the legacy of authoritarian rule and the struggles for democratic transition in the country, drawing comparisons to the sentencing of former dictator Chun Doo-hwan in 1996, who likewise initially received a death sentence later commuted to life imprisonment and eventually pardoned.
The crisis unfolded on December 3, 2024, when Yoon announced the imposition of martial law in a televised address, citing threats from “anti-state forces” within the opposition. He alleged that elements of the opposition sympathized with North Korea and were undermining the government. Immediately following the announcement, soldiers were dispatched to the National Assembly in an attempt to seize control.
However, lawmakers and citizens mobilized to resist the move. Footage broadcast live on television showed legislators scaling fences and confronting soldiers to prevent them from entering the parliamentary chamber. Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Seoul, adding to the pressure on Yoon’s government. Within six hours, lawmakers convened an emergency session and revoked the martial law declaration.
Yoon was subsequently impeached by the Constitutional Court in April 2025, paving the way for criminal proceedings. He had been in pre-trial detention for a year at the time of Thursday’s sentencing. Prior to this conviction, Yoon was sentenced to five years in prison in a separate case for obstructing his own arrest and falsifying documents to falsely claim support from other officials.
Alongside Yoon, several high-ranking officials were also sentenced. Former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun received a 30-year prison sentence for his role in the attempted imposition of martial law. Roh Sang-won, a former intelligence chief, was sentenced to 18 years, while Cho Ji-ho, the former head of the National Police Agency, received a 12-year sentence. Kim Bong-sik, the former head of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, was sentenced to 10 years, and Mok Hyun-tae, a former security official at the National Assembly, received a three-year sentence.
The court also found Yoon guilty of ordering the detention of political opponents, including current President Lee Jae-myung, with the intention of neutralizing key opposition figures and disrupting the legislative process.
The prosecution argued that Yoon’s actions fundamentally undermined the country’s democratic institutions and warranted the maximum penalty. While the court rejected the call for the death penalty, the life sentence underscores the severity of the charges and the gravity of the situation. The defense had argued that evidence was obtained illegally and attempted to invalidate the proceedings, but the court upheld the legality of the investigation conducted by both the prosecution and the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO).
The sentencing has sparked a polarized reaction in South Korea, with supporters and opponents of Yoon gathering near the courthouse. Approximately 1,000 police officers were deployed to maintain order and prevent clashes. Yoon still faces seven additional trials, five of which are related to the imposition of martial law, including accusations of abuse of power, false testimony, and allegedly sending drones to North Korea in 2024 to escalate tensions between the two countries.