A former South Korean president, Yoon Suk Yeol, was convicted of insurrection by a South Korean court on Thursday and was handed a life sentence. The court stated that his declaration of martial law in December 2024 was a calculated move to disrupt the National Assembly’s functions.
Yoon announced martial law in a televised speech in December 2024, citing the necessity of extreme actions to eliminate “anti-state elements.”
According to the presiding judge, Ji Gwi-yeon, Yoon deployed military forces to the assembly premises to stifle opposition voices, with the clear intention of immobilizing the assembly for an extended period.
Judge Ji, speaking at the Seoul Central District Court, emphasized the significant societal repercussions of the martial law declaration and noted the absence of any signs of remorse from the defendant.
Consequently, Yoon was handed a life sentence by the court for his actions.
