A South Korean court on Thursday found former President Yoon Suk Yeol guilty of insurrection and sentenced him to life in prison, ruling that his December 2024 declaration of martial law was part of a plan to “paralyse” the National Assembly.
Yoon had abruptly announced martial law in a televised address, claiming drastic measures were needed to root out “anti-state forces.”
Presiding Judge Ji Gwi-yeon said the former president dispatched troops to the assembly building to silence political opponents.
“The Court finds that the intention was to paralyse the assembly for a considerable period,” Ji said.
“The declaration of martial law resulted in enormous social costs, and it is difficult to find any indication that the defendant has expressed remorse for that,” the judge added.
“Accordingly, we sentence Yoon to life imprisonment.”
