Former President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea received a life sentence on Thursday after a court found him guilty of leading an insurrection. His actions, which involved declaring martial law in 2024, plunged the country into a severe constitutional crisis.
Mr. Yoon, 65, faced a series of criminal charges since April, with the insurrection charge being the most serious. Prosecutors had pushed for a death sentence. Presiding Judge Ji Gwi-yeon stated during sentencing that Mr. Yoon had “flouted legal procedures and resorted to violent means to try to incapacitate the National Assembly and undermine democratic norms.”
Despite denying all charges, Mr. Yoon has one week to appeal the verdict. For many South Koreans, who endured a tumultuous period after the martial law declaration, this verdict offers a measure of closure. This move had threatened the decades of democracy they fought hard to secure after years of military rule. Protesters who opposed Mr. Yoon gathered outside the courthouse as the verdict was announced, some screaming in disbelief and tears, while others chanted “Our president, Yoon Suk Yeol!”.
However, the ruling is unlikely to bridge the deep divides within the country. The former president still commands a significant base of loyal supporters, some of whom were present at the courthouse, reflecting the nation’s ongoing polarization.
On December 3, 2024, Mr. Yoon declared martial law, claiming it was essential to eliminate “anti-state forces” within the opposition-controlled National Assembly, which he labeled a “den of criminals” for allegedly paralyzing his government. His decree prohibited all political activities and imposed military control over the news media. Armed troops subsequently raided the National Assembly and the National Election Commission, with prosecutors alleging Mr. Yoon also ordered the arrest of political opponents.
Public outrage swiftly derailed his attempt to govern by martial law. Citizens, witnessing his declaration on TV, rushed to the National Assembly, confronting troops and preventing them from seizing the main chamber. Inside, lawmakers quickly convened and voted down the decree in the dead of night.
Mr. Yoon was forced to revoke the martial law declaration after just six hours. This audacious power grab triggered South Korea’s most severe political crisis in decades, challenging its democratic foundations. The country responded by impeaching the president, arresting those implicated in the martial law plot, and electing a new leader, Lee Jae Myung.
Prosecutors maintained that Mr. Yoon’s and his collaborators’ actions during this brief period constituted an act of insurrection. Conversely, Mr. Yoon dismissed these accusations as “writing fiction,” asserting his declaration was a legitimate exercise of presidential authority to warn South Koreans about the perceived threat from his political left-wing adversaries.
Further Insights:
- Yoon’s Prison Life: Since his latest arrest, Mr. Yoon’s life has drastically changed. He now sleeps on a floor mattress in a 70-square-foot jail cell, a stark contrast to his presidential hilltop mansion. He is known as Inmate No. 3617 and receives no special treatment, living on a dollar-a-meal budget and without internet access. This mirrors the fate of several former South Korean presidents who were jailed after leaving office, a poignant irony given Mr. Yoon himself, as a prosecutor, helped imprison former presidents Park Geun-hye and Lee Myung-bak.
- Loyal Supporters Remain: Despite his martial law declaration failing and his subsequent impeachment, Mr. Yoon retains a dedicated base of supporters. These groups frequently rally in Seoul, condemning his impeachment as “null and void” and calling for “Yoon again!” They are a key part of South Korea’s “far right” movement, often expressing animosity towards North Korea, China, and current leader Lee Jae Myung’s center-left supporters. Their rallies often feature American flags and anti-Chinese slogans, fueled by conspiracy theories about foreign influence in South Korean elections. Key figures, including Presbyterian pastors and YouTube provocateurs, continue to defend his actions.
Judge Ji Gwi-yeon elaborated that the martial law imposition, particularly the raids on the National Assembly and Election Commission, constituted a “riot” that destabilized the nation. This judicial interpretation aligns with the 1996 conviction of former military dictator Chun Doo-hwan for insurrection.
The court also found former National Police Agency head Cho Ji-ho and former Seoul police chief Kim Bong-sik guilty of participating in the insurrection, for ordering the blockade of the National Assembly. Earlier, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo received a 23-year sentence and Home Minister Lee Sang-min received 7 years for their roles, with judges in those cases also labeling Yoon’s actions an insurrection. More than 40 senior officials have faced trials related to the martial law.
Mr. Yoon’s trial marks the fifth time a South Korean president has faced criminal charges since the country’s transition to democratic rule in 1987. This ongoing pattern fuels a national debate about potentially limiting the extensive constitutional powers of the presidency.