In the trial over the brief declaration of martial law, South Korea’s former president Yoon Suk‑yeol has been sentenced to life imprisonment. A court found him guilty on Thursday of inciting a rebellion, a verdict that falls short of the prosecution’s request for the death penalty presented in its final plea.

Yoon had imposed martial law in early December 2024 amid a power struggle with the opposition, which held a majority in Parliament. The opposition used its majority to attack members of Yoon’s cabinet and to block the passage of fiscal plans.

After the decree was annulled, Yoon was removed from office and taken into custody. In January 2026 he had already received a five‑year prison term for obstructing justice.