Life sentence for Yoon Suk Yeol in historic South Korea verdict
Former South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol has been sentenced to life imprisonment after being convicted of insurrection in a landmark ruling that has shaken the nation. The Seoul Central District Court found that his controversial declaration of martial law in December 2024 amounted to an unlawful attempt to override democratic authority.
Prosecutors had pushed for the death penalty, calling his actions a direct threat to the constitutional order. The court instead handed down a life sentence, marking the first time a democratically elected South Korean leader has received such a severe punishment for insurrection.
The verdict has triggered intense debate across the country, with supporters claiming political motivation and critics describing the ruling as a powerful defence of democracy. Appeals are expected as South Korea faces a new chapter in its political history.
