Former South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol has been sentenced to life imprisonment after being convicted of leading an insurrection over his December 2024 declaration of martial law.
The verdict, delivered by Judge Jee Kui-youn at the Seoul Central District Court, was lighter than the death penalty sought by prosecutors. The court ruled that Yoon planned the uprising, deployed troops to block the National Assembly, and ordered the arrest of key figures, including current president Lee Jae Myung, in a bid to undermine the constitutional order.
Five others were also sentenced, including former defense minister Kim Yong-hyun, who received 30 years in prison. Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo was jailed for 23 years, while former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min got seven years.
Yoon, who denied wrongdoing and refused to appear in court, can appeal within a week. He had earlier been sentenced to five years for attempting to obstruct his arrest after his impeachment. The martial law order was overturned within hours by lawmakers, and Yoon was formally removed from office on April 4, 2025.
