Former South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol found guilty of orchestrating illegal power grab and disrupting democracy in Seoul

South Korea watched history unfold this week as former president Yoon Suk Yeol avoided the death penalty but received a life sentence for orchestrating a dramatic attempt to seize power in 2024.

The Seoul court found Yoon guilty of leading an insurrection by mobilizing the military and police to impose martial law, aiming to overthrow the liberal-led National Assembly.

The botched decree, which lasted roughly six hours on December 3, 2024, ended in chaos as lawmakers broke through a heavily-armed blockade to lift the measure, highlighting the failure of the plan.

Life Sentence Instead of Death

Special prosecutors had pushed for the maximum punishment, arguing Yoon’s actions posed an existential threat to South Korea’s democracy.

Analysts, however, had long expected a life sentence since the power grab did not result in any deaths.

The judge stated that Yoon was also guilty of abuse of authority, emphasizing that his actions went beyond a political misstep and threatened the foundations of democratic governance.

Yoon’s legal team immediately criticized the verdict, claiming it lacked evidence and followed a predetermined script.

Yoon is expected to appeal, as legal experts predict a drawn-out process for one of the country’s most high-profile political trials in decades.

How the Martial Law Unfolded

Yoon, a staunch conservative, justified the martial law decree as a necessary measure against what he called “anti-state” forces in the liberal-majority legislature, who he claimed obstructed his governance.

Despite his claims, the decree quickly collapsed.

Hundreds of troops and police had attempted to enforce it, but lawmakers successfully convened, lifted the martial law, and restored democratic order in just a few hours.

Several of Yoon’s senior officials were also convicted.

Former Defence Minister Kim Yong Hyun received a 30-year sentence for coordinating the military and police actions.

However, others like Kim Yong-gun, former chief of the defence ministry investigation bureau, and Yoon Seung-yeong, a former police bureau official, were acquitted.

Cabinet Members Also Held Accountable

The court extended its scrutiny to members of Yoon’s Cabinet.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo was sentenced to 23 years for attempting to legitimize the decree through falsified records and coercion, though he has appealed.

Other Cabinet officials faced separate convictions for their involvement in enforcing the martial law proclamation.

This wave of convictions marks one of the toughest crackdowns on a failed coup in South Korea’s modern political history.

Public Reactions Outside the Court

As Yoon arrived for sentencing, hundreds of police officers monitored crowds of both supporters and critics.

Yoon’s supporters rallied outside the judicial complex, chanting and waving banners, while critics demanded harsher penalties, including the death sentence.

Inside the courtroom, Yoon remained stoic, showing no visible reaction as the life sentence was read.

The judge warned that his actions had caused serious harm to South Korea’s democratic institutions, signaling that the nation would not tolerate attempts to undermine its constitutional order.

What’s Next?

Yoon and his co-defendants have one week to appeal the verdict.

Legal experts anticipate multiple appeals, which could keep the case alive in South Korea’s courts for years.

Analysts are watching closely to see how this ruling will shape future political behavior and civil-military relations in the country.

International observers have also highlighted the case as a test of South Korea’s democratic resilience, particularly as the country balances a polarized political environment with strong public demand for accountability.

Summary

Former South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol has been sentenced to life in prison for masterminding a failed martial law coup in December 2024.

The court found him guilty of insurrection, abuse of authority, and mobilizing the military and police to seize control of the legislature.

Several Cabinet members and military officials were also convicted, though some were acquitted.

While prosecutors sought the death penalty, the judge imposed life imprisonment, noting the threat Yoon posed to democracy.

Appeals are expected, and the case is likely to influence South Korean politics for years to come.