Former South Korean President Yoon receives life sentence for imposing martial law

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SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was sentenced to beingness successful situation for his little imposition of martial instrumentality successful a melodramatic culmination to the country's biggest governmental situation successful decades.

Yoon fell from bureau aft an ill-advised effort to flooded an opposition-controlled legislature by declaring martial instrumentality and sending troops to situation the legislature connected Dec. 3, 2024.

Judge Jee Kui-youn said helium recovered Yoon blameworthy of rebellion for mobilizing subject and constabulary forces successful an amerciable effort to prehend the liberal-led National Assembly, apprehension politicians and found unchecked powerfulness for a “considerable” time.

Yoon is apt to entreaty the verdict.

A peculiar authoritative had demanded the decease punishment for Yoon, saying his actions posed a menace to the country’s ideology and deserved the astir superior punishment available, but astir analysts expect a beingness condemnation since the poorly-planned powerfulness drawback did not effect successful casualties.

South Korea has not executed a decease enactment inmate since 1997, successful what is wide seen arsenic a de facto moratorium connected superior punishment amid calls for its abolition.

As Yoon arrived successful court, hundreds of constabulary officers watched intimately arsenic Yoon supporters rallied extracurricular a judicial complex, their cries rising arsenic the situation autobus transporting him drove past. Yoon’s critics gathered nearby, demanding the decease penalty.

The tribunal besides convicted and sentenced respective erstwhile subject and constabulary officials progressive successful enforcing Yoon’s martial instrumentality decree, including ex-Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun, who received a 30-year jailhouse word for his cardinal relation successful readying the measurement and mobilizing the military.

Yoon, a staunch conservative, has defended his martial instrumentality decree arsenic indispensable to halt liberals, whom helium described arsenic “anti-state” forces, from obstructing his docket with their legislative majority.

The decree lasted astir six hours earlier being lifted aft a quorum of lawmakers managed to interruption done a subject blockade and unanimously voted to assistance the measure.

Yoon was suspended from bureau connected Dec. 14, 2024, aft being impeached by lawmakers and was formally removed by the Constitutional Court successful April 2025. He has been nether apprehension since past July portion facing aggregate transgression trials, with the rebellion complaint carrying the astir terrible punishment.

Last month, Yoon was sentenced to 5 years successful situation for resisting arrest, fabricating the martial instrumentality proclamation and sidestepping a legally mandated afloat Cabinet gathering earlier declaring the measure.

The Seoul Central Court has besides convicted 2 of Yoon’s Cabinet members successful different cases. That includes Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who received a 23-year situation condemnation for attempting to legitimize the decree by forcing it done a Cabinet Council meeting, falsifying records and lying nether oath. Han has appealed the verdict.

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