Seoul – Former South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol has been sentenced to life imprisonment for orchestrating a failed attempt to impose martial law, a Seoul court ruled Thursday. The verdict marks one of the most unprecedented political crises in modern South Korean history.
The court found that on 3 December 2024, Yoon deployed military forces to block the National Assembly and ordered the arrest of opposition lawmakers in an effort to consolidate power. Presiding judge Ji Gwi-yeon called Yoon’s actions “a direct threat to democracy” and said they required the severest punishment. Prosecutors had sought the death penalty, though South Korea has not carried out an execution since 1997, making a life sentence effectively the maximum punishment.
Political Turmoil and Public Reaction
Though the martial law order lasted only hours before being overturned by lawmakers, it left the nation deeply polarized. Thousands of Yoon supporters gathered outside the courthouse, some in tears, while counter-protesters demanded the harshest sentence. Yoon himself remained calm as the verdict was read. His lawyers claimed the judgment lacked evidence and accused the court of following a “pre-written script.”
Top Officials Also Punished
Several of Yoon’s senior aides were sentenced for their roles in the attempted insurrection:
-
Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo – 23 years
-
Former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun – 30 years
-
Former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min, ex-Intelligence Commander Roh Sang-won, and former Police Chief Cho Ji-ho – sentences ranging from 20 to 25 years
Judges described the incident as “an insurrection from the top,” though they found no definitive proof that Yoon had planned the martial law move long in advance.
Motives Behind the Move
Yoon publicly justified the order as a defense against “anti-state forces sympathetic to North Korea”, but investigators say domestic political pressures were the main driver. His opposition-controlled parliament had limited his power, and his wife Kim Keon Hee was facing corruption allegations. Analysts say the martial law attempt was primarily a desperate effort to maintain political control.
Who Gains Politically?
The ruling Democratic Party, which took office after Yoon’s ouster, stands to benefit from the verdict. Party leader Jung Chung-rae criticized the court for not imposing the death penalty but emphasized the verdict validates Yoon’s ouster and the party’s rise. Political analysts predict the life sentence could strengthen the Democratic Party’s position in upcoming elections, while conservative Yoon supporters may become further alienated.
A Pattern in South Korean Politics
South Korea has a history of jailing former presidents, often for corruption or abuse of power, though most are later pardoned after serving only a few years.
Presidents Park Geun-hye, Lee Myung-bak, Chun Doo-hwan, and Roh Tae-woo all experienced imprisonment before eventual release. Observers suggest Yoon’s life sentence may also be reduced in the future, despite the severity of his martial law attempt.
▶ Read More https://thereporter24.com/news/martial-law-misfire-yoon-suk-yeol-sentenced-deepening-south-korea-s-political-divide
No comments: