South Korea’s Former President Yoon Suk Yeol Jailed for Life After Martial Law Ruling

Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was sentenced to life in prison on Thursday after a Seoul court judged him guilty of rebellion stemming from his proclamation of martial law in December 2024.

The Seoul Central District Court decided that Yoon unlawfully deployed military and police troops in an attempt to seize control of the liberal-led National Assembly. The court stated that the move was intended to hold politicians and consolidate unfettered power for a “considerable” period of time.

The verdict is a stunning setback for the conservative leader, whose brief edict on December 3, 2024, threw the country into political instability. The court found that highly armed military and police were placed around the legislature in an unconstitutional attempt to seize power. After about six hours, lawmakers broke through the impasse and voted unanimously to lift the legislation.

Why Did Yoon Suk Yeol Declare Martial Law?

Yoon Suk Yeol has continually defended his actions, claiming that the order was required to combat what he described as “anti-state” elements hindering his administration. He accused opposition lawmakers, including Lee Jae Myung, of paralysing governance with their parliamentary majority. The court, however, rejected that justification, ruling that the conditions did not match the constitutional requirements for martial law.

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Judge Jee Kui-youn determined that Yoon’s activities constituted rebellion since they involved the illegal use of state force to overthrow democratic institutions. Prosecutors claimed the effort represented a severe threat to South Korea’s constitutional order. A special prosecutor sought the death penalty, calling the incident as one of the most serious assaults on democracy in recent memory.

South Korea has not executed anyone since 1997, and most pundits believed that Yoon Suk Yeol would receive a life sentence rather than the death penalty. Yoon is anticipated to appeal the decision, potentially extending the court struggle. His defence team has contended that the measure was a permissible presidential action made in extraordinary circumstances.

Political Fallout and Broader Convictions

Yoon Suk Yeol had been impeached by MPs on December 14, 2024, and the Constitutional Court formally removed him from office in April 2025. He has been arrested since July and is facing several criminal prosecutions. Last month, he was sentenced to five years in prison in a separate case involving resisting arrest and procedural irregularities related to the martial law declaration.

The court also condemned former Defence Minister Kim Yong Hyun to 30 years in prison for his role in the decree’s planning and execution. Several additional senior military and police officials were convicted of implementing the order. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo was sentenced to 23 years in prison for seeking to legitimise the measure during a Cabinet meeting and fabricating records, although he has appealed.

Police maintained a large presence outside the court building in Seoul, where supporters and detractors of Yoon gathered. Demonstrators advocating for the death penalty clashed with supporters who condemned the ruling as politically motivated. The Yoon Suk Yeol verdict is likely to have long-term ramifications for South Korea’s political environment and the debate over executive power.