Politics

A court in South Korea sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to life in prison on Thursday. He was found guilty of abusing his power and leading an insurrection due to his attempt to declare martial law in December 2024. Prosecutors had requested the death penalty for Yoon, in a case that has drawn significant attention in a country that is deeply divided. This ruling is the most significant yet for Yoon, whose actions led to a national political crisis and challenged the strength of democracy. In January, prosecutors argued that Yoon's “unconstitutional and illegal emergency martial law undermined the function of the National Assembly and the Election Commission, effectively destroying the liberal democratic constitutional order.” Under South Korean law, leading an insurrection can result in a maximum penalty of life imprisonment or the death penalty. South Korea last issued a death sentence in 2016, but has not carried out executions since 1997. There was a heavy police presence at the Seoul Central District Court during the trial, with police buses set up around the courthouse for security. The court is also set to decide on accusations that Yoon misused his authority by ordering troops to storm parliament to arrest his opponents, and by sending soldiers and police to control access to various facilities, including those of the opposition party. Yoon, who is 65 years old, has denied all charges. The former conservative prosecutor maintained that he had the presidential power to declare martial law and claimed his actions were intended to address the obstruction posed by opposition parties.