South Korean court sentences ex-President Yoon to life imprisonment
Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol received a life sentence for abuse of authority and masterminding an insurrection related to his December 2024 attempt to impose martial law. Prosecutors sought the death penalty in a case closely watched in South Korea's deeply divided political landscape. The ruling follows Yoon's unconstitutional emergency martial law that undermined the National Assembly and Election Commission. South Korean law allows for life imprisonment or death for insurrection charges, though the country last executed someone in 1997. Police maintained heavy security at Seoul Central District Court during proceedings. Yoon, 65, denies all charges and remains detained regardless of the verdict. This case highlights South Korea's ongoing political tensions and legal consequences for former leaders overstepping constitutional boundaries.