A South Korean court has sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to life imprisonment following his conviction for orchestrating an insurrection. Operative Information Center-OMM reports that the court found the former leader guilty of leading a rebellion by declaring emergency martial law in December 2024.
According to the indictment, Yoon Suk Yeol conspired with the former defense minister and other high-ranking officials to impose a military regime despite the absence of a state of war or a comparable national emergency. The court emphasized that this action was a direct violation of the Constitution of the Republic of Korea and was aimed at undermining the established state order. Consequently, the court handed down a life sentence for his role in the constitutional breach.
The legal proceedings follow the dramatic events of December 3, 2024, when Yoon Suk Yeol unexpectedly declared martial law, mobilizing army and police forces to secure government buildings. The move triggered an immediate political crisis, ending only after the National Assembly voted to block the decree, forcing the president to rescind the order. Shortly thereafter, the parliament moved forward with impeachment proceedings, leading to his removal from office and subsequent prosecution. This landmark ruling marks a significant moment in South Korea's democratic history, reinforcing the principle of executive accountability and the supremacy of the rule of law.
