Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol sentenced to life imprisonment: Who is he and why was he jailed?

A South Korean court on Thursday sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to life imprisonment after finding him guilty of masterminding an insurrection. Prosecutors had sought the death penalty in the case, which has been closely watched in a deeply divided country and marks one of the most consequential rulings against a former leader in South Korea’s history.

The verdict stems from Yoon’s December 2024 attempt to impose martial law, which the court said was aimed at undermining the constitutional order.

Judge Jee Kui-youn said Yoon conspired with then-defence minister Kim Yong-hyun to deploy troops to the National Assembly in an attempt to paralyse its functioning.


“It is the court’s judgment that sending armed troops to parliament and using equipment to attempt arrests constitute acts of insurrection,” the judge said while delivering the ruling.

The court also noted that Yoon directed officials and military personnel in illegal actions on December 3, 2024. The judges added that the martial law declaration resulted in enormous social and political costs, justifying the life sentence.

All About Yoon Suk Yeol

Born into a well-to-do family, Yoon Suk Yeol performed well academically and studied law at Seoul National University. However, he struggled early in his career and passed the bar exam only on his ninth attempt at the age of 30.

He later rose to prominence as a prosecutor, gaining national attention for investigating two former presidents on corruption charges.

By 2022, after leading a high-profile investigation into the justice minister, Yoon emerged as a leading conservative figure. He was elected as South Korea’s 13th president in 2022.

His presidency faced controversy from the beginning. He moved the presidential office from the historic Blue House compound, triggering public debate and speculation, which he denied was influenced by superstition or feng shui beliefs.

Yoon also faced criticism over his handling of the 2022 Halloween crowd crush that killed 159 people, after he refused to dismiss senior officials.

Among his close associates was Safety Minister Lee Sang-min, who was later sentenced to seven years in prison for his role related to the martial law events.

Former defence minister Kim Yong-hyun, another close ally and former security chief, is currently on trial for insurrection charges. Prosecutors allege he played a key role in advising Yoon to impose martial law, though he has denied any wrongdoing.

Yoon’s removal from office in 2025 and subsequent conviction mark a dramatic fall for a leader who once held the country’s highest office.