Ex-South Korean President Yoon Sentenced To Life In Prison For Imposing Martial Law

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been sentenced to life in prison for his brief imposition of martial law, a dramatic culmination of the country’s biggest political crisis in decades.

Yoon was removed from office on December 3, 2024, following a surprising attempt to bypass the opposition-controlled legislature by declaring martial law and sending troops to surround the National Assembly.

Judge Jee Kui-youn of the Seoul Central District Court said he found Yoon guilty of sedition for mobilizing military and police forces in an illegal attempt to seize the liberal-led Parliament, arrest politicians and establish uncontrolled power for a “considerable” period.

Yoon’s imposition of martial law, the first of its kind in more than four decades, is reminiscent of South Korea’s martial law policy. Past military-backed governments When authorities occasionally declare emergency decrees that allow them to deploy troops, tanks, and armored vehicles on the streets or in public places such as schools to prevent anti-government demonstrations.

As lawmakers flocked to the National Assembly, Yoon’s martial law command issued a proclamation declaring sweeping powers, including suspending political activities, controlling media and publications, and authorizing warrantless arrests.

The decree lasted about six hours before being lifted after a quorum of MPs managed to overcome the military blockade and was approved unanimously. lift the injunction.

Yoon was suspended from office on December 14, 2024, after being impeached by lawmakers and officially removed By the Constitutional Court in April 2025. He has been detained since last July while facing multiple criminal cases on charges of rebellion, which carries the maximum penalty.

Yoon Kap-keun, one of the former president’s lawyers, accused Jee of making a “predetermined decision” based solely on prosecutors’ allegations and said the “rule of law” had collapsed. He said he would discuss with his client and the rest of his legal team whether to appeal.

Yoon Suk Yeol told the court that the martial law decree was only intended to raise public awareness about how liberals were paralyzing state affairs, and that he was ready to respect legislators if they voted against it.

Prosecutors said it was clear that Yoon was trying to sideline the legislature and prevent lawmakers from repealing the measure through a vote, actions that exceeded his constitutional authority even under martial law.

In explaining Yoon and Kim’s decisions, Jee told the National Assembly that the decision to send troops was key to his determination that the imposition of martial law amounted to rebellion.

“The court found that the purpose of (Yoon’s) actions was to send troops to the National Assembly, block the Parliament building, and detain key figures, including the speaker of the National Assembly and leaders of the ruling and opposition parties, in order to prevent lawmakers from gathering to deliberate or vote,” Jee said. “It has been sufficiently proven that he intends to obstruct or paralyze the activities of the Assembly so that it is unable to properly discharge its functions for a significant period of time.”

When Yoon arrived at court, hundreds of police officers closely watched as Yoon supporters marched in front of the judicial complex; His screams rose as the prison bus carrying him passed. Yoon’s critics gathered nearby and demanded the death penalty.

There were no reports of major clashes following the decision.

A special prosecutor had sought the death penalty for Yoon Suk Yeol, saying his actions posed a threat to the country’s democracy and deserved the harshest possible punishment, but most analysts expected a life sentence because the poorly planned power grab did not result in death.

South Korea has not executed a death row inmate since 1997, amid calls to abolish the death penalty, in what is widely seen as a de facto moratorium on the death penalty.

The court also convicted and sentenced several former military and police officials involved in implementing Yoon’s martial law decree, including former Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun, who was sentenced to 30 years in prison for his central role in planning the measure and mobilizing the army.

Last month, Yoon was sentenced to five years in prison for resisting arrest, fabricating a declaration of martial law and avoiding a legally mandated full Cabinet meeting before announcing the measure.

The Seoul Central Court also convicted two members of Yoon. Cupboard in other cases. This includes Prime Minister Han Duck-sooHe was sentenced to 23 years in prison for trying to legitimize the decree by forcing a Cabinet Council meeting, falsifying records and lying under oath. Khan appealed the decision.

Yoon becomes the first former South Korean president to be sentenced to life in prison since former military dictator Chun Doo-hwanHe was sentenced to death in 1996 for a coup in 1979, a bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Gwangju in 1980 that left more than 200 people dead or missing, and corruption.

The Supreme Court later reduced his sentence to life imprisonment, and he was released under a special presidential pardon in late 1997. He died in 2021.