South Korea hands former president life term over constitutional crisis

Former South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol has been sentenced to life imprisonment after a court found him guilty of leading an insurrection linked to his declaration of martial law in December 2024, marking one of the most severe political rulings in the country’s modern history.

The verdict was delivered on February 18 by the Seoul Central District Court, which concluded that Yoon attempted to undermine the constitutional order by orchestrating the emergency measure and mobilising state institutions to support it, as per foreign media.

Judges said he played a central role in planning the actions, involved numerous officials, and showed no remorse, noting his refusal to appear in court proceedings. Prosecutors had sought the death penalty.

The ruling follows an earlier January judgment that sentenced Yoon to five years in prison for attempting to obstruct his arrest after he was impeached and suspended from office. He became the first sitting president in South Korea to be arrested, during a large-scale operation involving more than 3,000 police officers and a standoff with presidential security personnel.

Several senior officials were also punished over the failed martial law attempt. Former defense minister Kim Yong-hyun received a 30-year sentence, former prime minister Han Duck-soo was sentenced to 23 years, and former interior minister Lee Sang-min received seven years in prison.

According to prosecutors led by special counsel Cho Eun-suk, Yoon imposed martial law to prolong his hold on power by seizing control of the judiciary and legislature. Yoon denied wrongdoing, arguing the move was constitutional and intended to protect national freedom and sovereignty.

He announced martial law on December 3 — the country’s first such measure in 44 years — accusing the opposition Democratic Party of Korea of anti-state activity and links with North Korea. Troops were deployed to the National Assembly of South Korea, where clashes broke out with protesters and soldiers forcibly entered the building.

Lawmakers overturned the order within three hours, unanimously voting to revoke it after 190 legislators gathered despite the military presence. Yoon formally lifted martial law roughly six hours after its declaration. He was impeached 11 days later and permanently removed from office on April 4, 2025.

By Tamilla Hasanova