A court in Seoul has sentenced former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to life imprisonment after convicting him of leading an insurrection linked to his declaration of martial law on Dec. 3, 2024, reports Baltimore Chronicle via ABC News. The ruling was delivered Thursday by the Seoul Central District Court.
The court determined that Yoon’s primary offense involved mobilizing military and police units to take control of the National Assembly and detain leading political figures during the declared state of emergency. According to the judgment, these actions met the legal threshold required to establish the crime of insurrection under South Korean law.
Presiding judge Ji Gui-yeon stated that the deployment of martial law troops to the National Assembly constituted “rioting,” which is a central legal component of an insurrection charge. Ji further explained that the declaration of martial law may amount to insurrection if it is intended to obstruct or incapacitate constitutionally established institutions.
While the court acknowledged the existence of political friction between Yoon’s administration and the opposition-controlled legislature at the time, it concluded that such tensions did not justify invoking martial law under constitutional provisions.
In determining the sentence, the panel of judges noted that Yoon did not express remorse or acknowledge wrongdoing during the proceedings. This factor was taken into account when imposing life imprisonment.
Yoon’s legal team rejected the verdict. His attorney, Yoon Gab-geun, described the decision as “a mere formality for a predetermined conclusion.” Speaking to reporters after the ruling, he questioned whether to pursue an appeal or continue participating in the criminal process, adding that “the truth will be revealed in the court of history.”
Following the sentencing, Yoon was taken into custody and transferred to the Seoul Detention Center, where he will remain unless granted release pending appeal. If an appeal is filed, the case will proceed to the Seoul High Court, which has authority to review both factual determinations and legal interpretations. A further appeal could subsequently be submitted to the Supreme Court.
Prosecutors had requested the death penalty, arguing that Yoon’s actions represented a serious threat to the constitutional order.
Thursday’s verdict addressed only the insurrection charge. Additional criminal proceedings stemming from the December 2024 declaration of martial law, including allegations of abuse of power and obstruction of official duty, remain ongoing.
In a separate case resolved last month, Yoon was sentenced to five years in prison for obstructing his arrest. That conviction marked the first criminal judgment connected to the political crisis.
Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul, said the sentencing does not amount to a national catharsis, noting that many citizens have emotionally distanced themselves from the former president. He also indicated that the televised verdict does not close the matter, as numerous related cases and appeals tied to the martial law declaration are still awaiting adjudication.
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