A former president of South Korea, Yoon Suk Yeol, was sentenced to life imprisonment by a South Korean court yesterday. The court found him guilty of orchestrating an insurrection related to his attempt in December 2024 to impose martial law. Prosecutors had initially sought the death penalty in this closely monitored case in a country deeply divided over the issue. This trial is seen as the most significant among a series of legal proceedings against the ousted leader, whose actions sparked a national political crisis and put the country’s democratic strength to the test.
According to Judge Jee Kui-youn, Yoon colluded with his then-defense minister, Kim Yong-hyun, to undermine the constitutional order by deploying military forces to the parliament with the intention of disrupting its operations. Judge Jee, speaking on behalf of the three-judge panel in a crowded courtroom, stated, “The court deems that the deployment of armed forces to the parliament and the use of equipment to attempt arrests both constitute acts of insurrection.” Jee further mentioned that Yoon had led a group of officials and troops in criminal activities on December 3, 2024.