A South Korean court found former president Yoon Suk Yeol guilty of insurrection on Thursday and sentenced him to life in prison, saying his martial law declaration in December 2024 was a plot to “paralyze” the National Assembly.
In December 2024, Yoon abruptly proclaimed martial law in a broadcast speech, claiming that extreme measures were required to eradicate “anti-state forces.”
Ji Gwi-yeon, the presiding judge, stated that Yoon sent troops to the assembly building in an attempt to intimidate his political rivals.
“The Court finds that the intention was to paralyze the assembly for a considerable period,” Ji told Seoul Central District Court.
“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 said.
“We sentence Yoon to life imprisonment.”
