Yoon Suk Yeol sentenced to life with labour for leading insurrection

A Seoul court has sentenced former president Yoon Suk Yeol to life imprisonment with labour for his declaration of martial law on 3 December 2024, finding him guilty of leading an insurrection. The ruling makes him the first elected head of state in South Korea’s democratic era to receive the maximum custodial sentence.

Judge Jee Kui-youn said Yoon’s aim was “to send troops to the national assembly to blockade the assembly hall and arrest key figures, including the assembly speaker and party leaders, thereby preventing lawmakers from gathering to deliberate or vote.” The court noted Yoon’s refusal to attend hearings, his lack of apology and the wide social costs of his actions.

The judges said the declaration damaged the political neutrality of the military and police, weakened South Korea’s international standing and left society politically divided. They opted for life imprisonment rather than the death penalty because the planning did not appear meticulous, Yoon had sought to limit physical force and most of the plans failed.

South Korea, Seoul

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