A South Korean court has sentenced former president Yoon Suk Yeol to life in prison after he imposed martial law in the country in 2024.
Yoon was found guilty of abuse of authority and masterminding an insurrection, stemming from his mobilisation of military and police forces in an illegal attempt to seize the liberal-led National Assembly in December 2024, in a case that meant he also faced the death penalty.
Yoon, a staunch conservative, had defended his decree as necessary to stop liberals, whom he described as “anti-state” forces, from obstructing his agenda with their legislative majority.
People watch a news report on Yeol’s sentencing trial.
Pic: Reuters
The emergency rule triggered a national political crisis.
It lasted for around six hours before being lifted after politicians managed to break through a blockade by hundreds of heavily-armed troops and police and unanimously voted to lift the measure.
A supporter of Yeol reacts after the guilty verdict.
Pic: Reuters
Prosecutors sought the death penalty in January, saying “his unconstitutional and illegal emergency martial law undermined the function of the National Assembly and the Election Commission… actually destroying the liberal democratic constitutional order.”
The court also convicted and sentenced several former military and police officials involved in enforcing the martial law decree.
Former defence minister Kim Yong Hyun received a 30-year jail term for his central role in planning the measure and mobilising the military.
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