The Seoul Central District Court on Thursday sentenced former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to life in prison after finding him guilty of leading an insurrection tied to his declaration of martial law on Dec. 3, 2024.
In its ruling, the court concluded that Yoon’s principal offense involved mobilizing military and police forces to seize control of the National Assembly and detain key political figures during the state of emergency.
“The deployment of martial law troops to the National Assembly during the state of emergency constitutes ‘rioting,’ a key legal element required to establish the crime of insurrection,” presiding Judge Ji Gui-yeon said. The judge added that declaring martial law can amount to insurrection if it is intended to obstruct or paralyze constitutional institutions.
While acknowledging heightened political tensions between Yoon’s administration and the opposition-controlled legislature at the time, the court determined that those circumstances did not meet constitutional standards for imposing martial law.
Judges also cited Yoon’s lack of remorse or acknowledgment of wrongdoing during the proceedings as a factor in determining the sentence.
Yoon’s legal team sharply criticized the decision, describing it as “a mere formality for a predetermined conclusion.” Attorney Yoon Gab-geun told reporters that the former president was considering whether to pursue an appeal.
“Watching the rule of law collapse in reality, I question whether I should even pursue an appeal or continue participating in these criminal proceedings,” the attorney said. “The truth will be revealed in the court of history.”
Following the ruling, Yoon was taken into custody and transferred to the Seoul Detention Center, where he will remain unless granted release pending appeal.
If he files an appeal, the case will be reviewed by the Seoul High Court, which can reassess both legal interpretations and factual findings. A further appeal could ultimately be brought before the Supreme Court.
