Ex-South Korea president Yoon sentenced to life imprisonment for 'insurrection'

Former South Korea president Yoon Suk Yeol has been recovered blameworthy of "insurrection", and has been sentenced to beingness successful situation by the Seoul cardinal territory court. The verdict is linked to his martial instrumentality declaration successful December 2024 , which the tribunal called a deliberate crippled to "paralyse" the National Assembly."As to suspect Yoon Suk Yeol, the transgression of insurrection enactment is established," presiding justice Ji Gwi-yeon told Seoul Central District Court, arsenic quoted by AFP."The declaration of martial instrumentality resulted successful tremendous societal costs, and it is hard to find immoderate denotation that the suspect has expressed remorse for that," added the justice to the ruling portion announcing the 'life imprison' ruling.A peculiar authoritative has demanded the decease punishment for Yoon, arguing that his actions posed a superior menace to the country’s ideology and warranted the harshest punishment.

However, astir analysts expected a beingness sentence, noting that Yoon’s poorly planned powerfulness drawback did not effect successful immoderate casualties. South Korea has not executed a decease enactment inmate since 1997, efficaciously maintaining a moratorium amid ongoing calls for abolition.As Yoon arrived astatine the Seoul court, hundreds of constabulary officers monitored the country portion supporters rallied extracurricular the judicial complex. Nearby, critics demanded the decease penalty, their protests intensifying arsenic the situation autobus transporting Yoon passed by.

The tribunal volition besides perceive cases against 7 erstwhile subject and constabulary officials accused of enforcing Yoon’s martial instrumentality decree. Yoon, a staunch conservative, defended the six-hour decree arsenic indispensable to forestall “anti-state” wide forces from obstructing his agenda. The measurement was lifted aft lawmakers broke done a subject blockade and unanimously voted to nullify it.Yoon was suspended from bureau connected December 14, 2024, pursuing impeachment by the National Assembly, and formally removed by the Constitutional Court successful April 2025.

He has been successful custody since July 2025, facing aggregate transgression trials, with the rebellion complaint carrying the astir terrible punishment. Last month, helium was sentenced to 5 years successful situation for resisting arrest, fabricating the martial instrumentality proclamation, and bypassing a legally required afloat Cabinet gathering earlier declaring the measure.The Seoul Central Court has besides convicted 2 of Yoon’s Cabinet members successful related cases. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo was sentenced to 23 years for attempting to legitimise the decree done a Cabinet Council meeting, falsifying records, and lying nether oath. Han has appealed the verdict.