The verdict represents a significant moment for South Korea’s judicial system, which carried out the trial despite intense political polarization. The martial law decree—in effect for only about six hours—triggered the nation’s most serious political crisis in decades.
A Seoul court sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to life in prison on Feb. 20 after finding him guilty of orchestrating a rebellion through his declaration of martial law in December 2024. The verdict concluded a trial that exposed deep political divisions in South Korea and marked the end of Yoon’s political career.
Yoon, 65, remained defiant in his first response to the sentence. In a statement released through his lawyers, he maintained he had acted “solely for the benefit of the nation and our people.” He rejected the verdict as illegitimate and questioned whether the judiciary could be considered independent.
Judge Jee Kui-youn, presiding over Seoul’s Central District Court, found that Yoon had shown no sign of remorse for the social and economic costs inflicted by the martial law decree and had repeatedly refused to appear in court without justifiable reason. The court determined that Yoon mobilized military and police forces in an illegal attempt to seize control of South Korea’s legislature, which was controlled by progressive opposition parties, to detain political opponents, and to establish a government without checks and balances for an indefinite period.
“In a situation where the independence of the judiciary cannot be guaranteed and it is difficult to expect a verdict based on law and conscience, I feel deep skepticism about whether it would make sense to continue a legal battle through an appeal,” Yoon said in his statement. However, his lawyer, Yoo Jeong-hwa, clarified that Yoon was “only expressing his current state of mind” and had not indicated he intended to abandon his right to appeal. Yoon has seven days to file an appeal.
The Martial Law Declaration
Yoon argued that the declaration of martial law was necessary to counter a legislature controlled by what he characterized as “anti-state” forces. He also expressed solidarity with military and police officials who face investigations or charges in connection with the martial law decree, saying he felt responsible for their suffering. “Our struggle has not ended,” he told his supporters.
Yoon’s declaration of martial law came on the evening of Dec. 3, 2024, and lasted approximately six hours. Lawmakers, overcoming military blockades, voted unanimously to revoke the decree, forcing the government to withdraw it. The brief declaration became a flashpoint that triggered South Korea’s most serious political crisis in decades, destabilizing financial markets and paralyzing high-level diplomacy and government operations.
Yoon was suspended from office on Dec. 14, 2024 following an impeachment trial. South Korea’s Constitutional Court formally removed him from the presidency in April 2025, paving the way for new elections that brought progressive candidate Lee Jae-myung to power in June.
Convictions and Appeals
The court convicted five military and police officials for their roles in implementing the martial law decree. Former Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun, who played a key role in planning the measure and instructing military intelligence personnel to detain political figures, was sentenced to 30 years in prison. Kim filed an appeal.
A special prosecutor who had requested capital punishment for Yoon indicated that the prosecution has reservations about the court’s factual conclusions and sentencing and may seek a harsher sentence from a higher court. Jang Woo-sung, a member of the investigative team, told reporters the prosecution has “reservations” about the court’s reasoning and the severity of the penalty.
Political Reactions
Conservative supporters of Yoon, who gathered for hours near the courthouse ahead of the verdict, expressed disappointment when the sentence was announced. Opposition figures celebrated in nearby streets. Police separated the groups with hundreds of officers, and no significant clashes occurred.
Park Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the conservative People Power Party, said the court had not presented convincing arguments that Yoon’s actions constituted rebellion. He emphasized that “the right to presumption of innocence applies to all without exception,” while signaling a possible appeal would be pursued.