People at Seoul Station in central Seoul watch news coverage of the court handing down a life sentence to former President Yoon Suk Yeol, Thursday, on charges of leading an insurrection. Yonhap
Former President Yoon Suk Yeol was sentenced to life in prison Thursday after a court found him guilty of leading an insurrection linked to his martial law declaration on Dec. 3, 2024.
The court concluded that his actions met the legal definition of insurrection but declined to impose the death sentence despite the special counsel’s earlier request for capital punishment.
Under Korean criminal law, the offense of leading an insurrection carries only three possible penalties: death, life imprisonment with labor or life imprisonment without labor.
The ruling came 443 days after Yoon declared martial law.
The court acknowledged Yoon as "the leader of the insurrection,” on the basis that his martial law declaration violated the authority of the National Assembly, an act which constitutes insurrection.
Supporters of former President Yoon Suk Yeol rally near Seoul Central District Court, calling for the acquittal of Yoon, who faces a verdict on insurrection charges, Thursday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk
“The core factual element of this case is that troops were sent to the National Assembly,” the court said, emphasizing that the act itself represented the use of force against a constitutional body.
“It cannot be ruled out that Yoon aimed to paralyze the Assembly for a considerable period of time by sending troops to the Assembly to block it and arresting major politicians,” it said.
The judges further noted that even a sitting president can face insurrection charges if it is proven that there was intent to disrupt the constitutional order.
Source: Korea Times News
