Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol Gets Life Sentence Over Martial Law

Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been sentenced to life imprisonment for imposing martial law in December 2024, a move the court ruled amounted to rebellion against the constitutional order.

Judge Jee Kui-youn found Yoon guilty of mobilising military and police forces in what he described as an illegal attempt to seize control of the liberal-led National Assembly, arrest political opponents and consolidate unchecked authority for a “considerable” period.

Yoon is expected to appeal the verdict.

Death Penalty Sought, Life Term Delivered

A special prosecutor had sought the death penalty, arguing that Yoon’s actions posed a grave threat to South Korea’s democracy and warranted the harshest punishment available. However, most legal analysts had anticipated a life sentence, noting that the attempted power grab was poorly executed and did not result in casualties.

South Korea has not carried out an execution since 1997, widely regarded as a de facto moratorium on capital punishment amid growing calls for abolition.

Six-Hour Decree

Yoon, a conservative leader, defended his martial law decree as necessary to counter what he termed “anti-state” liberal forces obstructing his administration through their legislative majority.

The decree remained in force for approximately six hours before lawmakers managed to break through a military blockade at the National Assembly and unanimously voted to lift it.

He was impeached by lawmakers on December 14, 2024, and formally removed from office by the Constitutional Court in April 2025. He has been under arrest since July 2025 while facing multiple criminal trials, with the rebellion charge carrying the most severe penalty.

Additional Sentences

Last month, Yoon was sentenced to five years in prison for resisting arrest, fabricating the martial law proclamation and bypassing a legally required full Cabinet meeting before declaring martial law.

The court also handed down sentences to several former officials involved in enforcing the decree:

• Former Defence Minister Kim Yong Hyun received a 30-year prison term for his central role in planning the measure and mobilising the military.
• Prime Minister Han Duck-soo was sentenced to 23 years for attempting to legitimise the decree by forcing it through a Cabinet Council meeting, falsifying records and lying under oath. Han has appealed the verdict.

Polarised Reactions

Hundreds of police officers were deployed around the judicial complex as supporters and critics gathered outside. Yoon’s backers rallied in his defence, while opponents demanded the death penalty.

The ruling marks one of the most dramatic political and judicial episodes in South Korea’s modern history, underscoring the resilience of its constitutional system in the face of an unprecedented internal power challenge.

Read Also : 37 Crore from Jal Jeevan Mission Used for Rest Houses in Mandi: Mukesh Agnihotri