Former South Korean president Yoon sentenced to life in prison

A South Korean court sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to life in prison for his December 2024 imposition of martial law, finding the decree amounted to an insurrection; judges said he sought to prevent the National Assembly from functioning.

A South Korean court on Thursday sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to life in prison over his December 2024 imposition of martial law, which judges ruled amounted to an insurrection. The court said Mr. Yoon sought to block the National Assembly from performing its oversight role. Mr. Yoon had been impeached after the episode and was removed from office before a new presidential election was held. Prosecutors have pursued multiple charges related to the martial law decree against Mr. Yoon and other senior officials. Key facts: - The court sentenced Yoon Suk Yeol to life in prison for imposing emergency martial law in December 2024, ruling the actions amounted to an insurrection. - Judges said Yoon aimed to make the National Assembly unable to function by ordering barricades and arrests of lawmakers. - The martial law decree was overturned by the Assembly within hours on Dec. 3, 2024, and lawmakers later impeached Yoon; the Constitutional Court approved the impeachment, leading to a snap election. - Other officials have faced prosecutions in the same matter, and Yoon had previously received a five-year sentence for obstructing investigations; his former prime minister was also convicted in related charges. Summary: The court's verdict completes this trial phase by imposing a life sentence and restates the judges' view that the martial law order was intended to block parliamentary oversight. The decision follows impeachment and other convictions connected to the December 2024 events. Undetermined at this time.