Seoul: South Korea’s former president Yoon Suk Yeol has apologised to the public after a Seoul court sentenced him to life in prison for leading an insurrection linked to his failed attempt to impose martial law in December 2024. The ruling marks one of the most severe punishments ever handed down to a former leader in the country.
The court found that Yoon violated the constitution by deploying military forces and attempting to block lawmakers and detain political opponents in a move aimed at undermining the democratic order. His martial law decree lasted only about six hours before parliament forced its repeal, but it triggered a deep political crisis and eventually led to his removal from office.
Prosecutors had sought the death penalty, arguing that his actions threatened the nation’s democracy. Judges instead imposed a life sentence, noting the seriousness of the attempt to subvert civilian rule.
In a statement released after the verdict, Yoon apologised for causing frustration and hardship to the people. At the same time, he defended his decision as necessary for national stability and criticised the ruling as politically driven. His legal team said the apology does not mean he will give up his right to appeal.
Yoon declared martial law on December 3, 2024, claiming that legislative obstruction and anti state forces were paralysing governance. Lawmakers rejected the decree within hours, and mass protests soon followed. He was impeached days later and formally removed from office in 2025.
The political turmoil that followed exposed deep divisions in South Korean society and reshaped the country’s leadership. Liberal leader Lee Jae Myung was later elected president amid calls to restore democratic stability.
Yoon still faces additional legal proceedings connected to the martial law episode, and he is expected to challenge the life sentence in higher courts. The case continues to divide public opinion, with supporters and critics staging demonstrations in response to the verdict.
South Korea has not carried out an execution since 1997, making life imprisonment the most severe punishment likely to be enforced. The ruling is seen as a defining moment in the country’s modern political history and a test of its democratic institutions.