Former South Korean President Yoon receives life sentence for imposing martial legislation : NPR

[ad_1] <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4301x2868+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F2a%2F8f%2F9a1f9337479abd9747730fdc5431%2Fyoon-south-korea.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4301x2868+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F2a%2F8f%2F9a1f9337479abd9747730fdc5431%2Fyoon-south-korea.jpg" class="img" alt="FILE - Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, center arrives at a court to attend a hearing to review his arrest warrant requested by special prosecutors in Seoul, South Korea, July 9, 2025." fetchpriority="high"/> FILE - Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, heart arrives at a courtroom to attend a listening to to evaluation his arrest warrant requested by particular prosecutors in Seoul, South Korea, July 9, 2025. Kim Hong-Ji/Pool by way of AP disguise caption

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Kim Hong-Ji/Pool by way of AP SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Former President Yoon Suk Yeol was sentenced to life in jail for his transient imposition of martial legislation in December 2024.

Choose Jee Kui-youn mentioned he discovered Yoon responsible of rebel for mobilizing army and police forces in an unlawful try to seize the liberal-led Nationwide Meeting, arrest politicians and set up unchecked energy for a "appreciable" time.

Yoon is more likely to enchantment the decision.

A particular prosecutor had demanded the loss of life penalty for Yoon, saying his actions posed a risk to the nation's democracy and deserved probably the most critical punishment out there, however most analysts count on a life sentence for the reason that poorly-planned energy seize didn't lead to casualties.

South Korea has not executed a loss of life row inmate since 1997, in what's broadly seen as a de facto moratorium on capital punishment amid requires its abolition.

As Yoon arrived in courtroom, tons of of cops watched intently as Yoon supporters rallied outdoors a judicial advanced, their cries rising because the jail bus transporting him drove previous. Yoon's critics gathered close by, demanding the loss of life penalty.

The courtroom additionally convicted and sentenced a number of former army and police officers concerned in implementing Yoon's martial legislation decree, together with ex-Protection Minister Kim Yong Hyun, who acquired a 30-year jail time period for his central position in planning the measure and mobilizing the army.

Yoon, a staunch conservative, has defended his martial legislation decree as essential to cease liberals, whom he described as "anti-state" forces, from obstructing his agenda with their legislative majority.

The decree lasted about six hours earlier than being lifted after a quorum of lawmakers managed to interrupt via a army blockade and unanimously voted to raise the measure.

Yoon was suspended from workplace on Dec. 14, 2024, after being impeached by lawmakers and was formally eliminated by the Constitutional Court docket in April 2025. He has been beneath arrest since final July whereas going through a number of legal trials, with the rebel cost carrying probably the most extreme punishment.

Final month, Yoon was sentenced to 5 years in jail for resisting arrest, fabricating the martial legislation proclamation and sidestepping a legally mandated full Cupboard assembly earlier than declaring the measure.

The Seoul Central Court docket has additionally convicted two of Yoon's Cupboard members in different circumstances. That features Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who acquired a 23-year jail sentence for trying to legitimize the decree by forcing it via a Cupboard Council assembly, falsifying information and mendacity beneath oath. Han has appealed the decision.