South Korea’s ex-president Yoon Suk Yeol sentenced to life for 2024 martial law attempt

In Brief

Former South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol received life imprisonment for a failed 2024 martial law declaration.

Key Facts

• Yoon Suk Yeol was sentenced to life imprisonment with hard labour by the Seoul central district court
• The sentence relates to Yoon's failed declaration of martial law in December 2024
• The court found Yoon guilty of leading an insurrection against South Korea's democratic order
• Yoon is the first elected South Korean head of state in the democratic era to receive the maximum custodial sentence
• A judge stated that Yoon's martial law bid fundamentally damaged South Korea's democracy

What Happened

In December 2024, former South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, an action later deemed unsuccessful. The Seoul central district court found him guilty of leading an insurrection and sentenced him to life imprisonment with hard labour. This marks the first time an elected South Korean president in the democratic era has received such a sentence.

Why It Matters

The ruling underscores the South Korean judiciary's stance on upholding democratic principles and the rule of law. It highlights the legal consequences for attempts to undermine democratic governance. The case may have lasting implications for political accountability and civil-military relations in South Korea.