South Korea (The COW News Digital )A South Korean court has sentenced former president Yoon Suk Yeol to life imprisonment after convicting him of leading an act of rebellion linked to his brief imposition of martial law in December 2024.
According to the court’s ruling, Yoon deliberately attempted to paralyze the constitutional order by declaring martial law and announcing the dissolution of parliament. Judges found that he ordered troops to the National Assembly in a bid to prevent lawmakers from carrying out their legislative duties.
The court stated that the former president committed a grave violation of his constitutional responsibilities, causing significant political and social turmoil across the country. In its detailed verdict, the bench concluded that Yoon had effectively led a military-style insurrection against democratic institutions.
Prosecutors had sought the death penalty, arguing that the former president’s actions represented one of the most serious threats to South Korea’s democratic system in decades. However, the court opted for life imprisonment, noting the severity of the offense while stopping short of capital punishment.
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During the trial, Yoon defended his decision, asserting that as president he possessed the authority to impose martial law. He claimed the move was necessary to overcome what he described as persistent obstruction by opposition parties. The court rejected this argument, ruling that the circumstances did not meet constitutional requirements for such extraordinary measures.
The martial law declaration on December 3, 2024, triggered immediate public backlash. Thousands of citizens took to the streets in protest, while lawmakers convened an emergency session and voted to nullify the order within hours. The rapid mobilization of both parliament and civil society prevented the suspension of democratic governance.
In 2025, the National Assembly impeached Yoon following the incident, formally removing him from office. Subsequent investigations led to multiple charges, including rebellion and abuse of power. Earlier this year, he was also sentenced to five years in prison in a separate case related to obstructing his arrest.
Yoon is currently being held at a detention facility in Seoul. His legal team has criticized the verdict, describing it as politically motivated and vowing to appeal the decision in higher courts.
The ruling marks a historic moment in South Korea’s democratic trajectory, underscoring the judiciary’s role in upholding constitutional order and accountability at the highest levels of government.
