Overview
- Seoul’s Central District Court found Yoon guilty of rebellion for his December 2024 martial-law decree and imposed life imprisonment after prosecutors had sought the death penalty in a country with a de facto execution moratorium since 1997.
- Judge Jee Kui-youn said Yoon mobilized troops and police to seize the National Assembly, detain political opponents, and establish unchecked power, with the decree undone about six hours later when lawmakers broke a military cordon and voted to revoke it.
- Yoon’s statement cast the verdict as biased and his lawyers said they would assess an appeal, while he has seven days to file; a special prosecutor signaled possible appeal over the sentence and factual findings.
- Co-defendants received lengthy terms, including former defense minister Kim Yong-hyun with 30 years, former prime minister Han Duck-soo with 23 years, and former interior minister Lee Sang-min with seven years.
- Supporters and critics rallied outside the courthouse under heavy police guard without major clashes, and Yoon’s conviction follows a separate five-year sentence he received in January in a related case.