South Korea’s former president Yoon Suk Yeol jailed for life over insurrection

A South Korean court has sentenced former president Yoon Suk Yeol to life in prison after finding him guilty of masterminding an insurrection over his failed attempt to impose military rule in December 2024.

The ruling marks one of the most dramatic falls from power in South Korea’s modern political history.

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Delivering the verdict in Seoul, judge Ji Gwi-yeon said the court found that Yoon ordered the military to detain specific political figures and sought to paralyse the National Assembly in a bid to seize control of the state. Among those targeted was Lee Jae-myung, who was the opposition leader at the time and is now the president.

Yoon’s declaration of martial law lasted only six hours. However, the court ruled that the attempt shook the foundations of the constitutional order, disrupted government operations, and deepened political divisions nationwide.

According to the BBC, the court concluded that Yoon “intended to paralyse political activity inside the National Assembly” and had directed the military to capture key individuals. The BBC’s Seoul correspondent reported that Yoon showed no visible emotion as the sentence was read out.

Prosecutors had sought the death penalty, arguing that a lesser punishment would fail to deter any future attempt to subvert democratic rule. The court instead imposed a life sentence, noting that the short duration of the martial law order was a mitigating factor.

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That reasoning drew criticism from some political leaders. Woo Won Shik, speaker of the National Assembly, urged Yoon to apologise to the public. “I hope Yoon repents his wrongdoing and offers a sincere apology to the people,” he said, adding that it was regrettable the failed nature of the insurrection had been considered in sentencing.

Jung Chung-rae, leader of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, went further. He said the decision to spare Yoon the death penalty was “undermining judicial justice”, insisting the former president had “masterminded an insurrection that shook the very foundations of our nation”.

Several of Yoon’s former allies were also sentenced. Former defence minister Kim Yong-hyun received 30 years in prison. Roh Sang, a former intelligence commander, was sentenced to 18 years. Cho Ji ho, a former police chief, received 12 years, while Kim Bong sik, former head of the Seoul Metropolitan Police, was sentenced to 10 years. Mok Hyun-tae, former head of the National Assembly police guards, was jailed for three years.

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Two defendants, Kim Yong gun and Yoon Seung yeong, were found not guilty.
Yoon is already serving time over a separate conviction linked to the martial law order and still faces two more trials. The court said the defendants may appeal within a week.

Outside the court, supporters of the former president gathered in protest, a sign of how deeply polarised South Korea remains. The six-hour attempt to impose military rule may have failed, but its political and social aftershocks are still being felt.