Former President Yoon Suk Yeol could face the death penalty if convicted in his insurrection trial over the short-lived 2024 martial law order that plunged South Korea into political turmoil.
A three-judge panel at the capital’s Central District Court is scheduled to deliver the verdict Thursday at 3 p.m. local time (1 a.m. ET). The ruling will also cover seven former military officers and senior police officials, including former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, with prosecutors seeking sentences ranging from 10 years to life in prison.
The 2024 Martial Law Crisis
The crisis began in December 2024 when Yoon, citing obstruction from opposition lawmakers, declared martial law in a late-night televised address, suspending civilian government, banning political activity, and imposing media censorship. The order lasted just six hours, as lawmakers rushed the National Assembly, pushed past troops, and voted unanimously to overturn the decree.
Ten days later, Yoon was impeached, and in January 2025, he became South Korea’s first president to be arrested while in office. The Constitutional Court upheld his impeachment in April 2025.
Yoon maintains that his declaration was a short-term, symbolic effort to raise public awareness of legislative obstruction. Prosecutors argue it was a calculated attempt to extend his rule indefinitely, driven by a “lust for power.”
Ongoing Legal Proceedings
Yoon faces eight additional criminal trials, including a treason case over allegedly ordering drones into North Korean airspace. He was sentenced to five years in prison in one of these cases last month and is appealing the verdict.
Other top officials from his administration have also received sentences: former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo received 23 years, former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min seven years, and Yoon’s wife, former first lady Kim Keon Hee, 20 months for bribery in an unrelated case.
Public Reaction and International Recognition
The episode divided the nation, with Yoon’s conservative supporters cheering his resistance while others condemned his actions. Ahead of the verdict, current President Lee Jae Myung highlighted that South Koreans had been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for resisting the martial law attempt, calling the country “a model for human history.”
Security at the court has been heightened to manage large crowds as the verdict is broadcast live nationwide.
