A Seoul court has sentenced former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to life in prison for his attempted coup in December 2024. The politician was found guilty of sedition and seeking to seize absolute power by declaring martial law. While the prosecution pushed for the death penalty, the court opted for life imprisonment, citing South Korea’s de facto moratorium on executions, which has been in place since 1997.
Sentences for the Inner Circle and Security Officials
The judicial verdict was equally severe for the former head of state’s inner circle. Yoon Suk Yeol’s life sentence comes in addition to an existing five-year term for resisting arrest. The former defense minister was sentenced to 30 years in prison for aiding the rebellion, while the former police chief received 12 years. The defense has only one week to appeal these rulings before the sentences become legally binding.
Timeline of the Failed Coup
The crisis unfolded rapidly following Yoon’s standoff with the opposition-controlled parliament. On December 3, 2024, the president declared martial law and attempted to blockade the legislative building. Despite the security cordons, lawmakers broke inside and voted to overturn the decree just six hours after it took effect. Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached on December 14, 2024, and was officially detained by security forces in July of the following year. In January 2026, a court issued an initial ruling on procedural violations, which served as a precursor to today’s life sentence.
A Divided Society
While the judge read the verdict, protests continued outside the courthouse. Dozens of supporters of the former president demanded his acquittal, calling his actions a necessary measure to save the country. However, the majority of the population and the political establishment have hailed the verdict as a “triumph of democracy” and a historic precedent that puts an end to attempts at dictatorship.
