Overview
- Judges ruled that Yoon Suk Yeol conspired with then–defense minister Kim Yong-hyun to deploy troops to the National Assembly to paralyze its functions, constituting insurrection.
- Kim Yong-hyun received a 30-year prison term, while earlier related cases saw former prime minister Han Duck-soo sentenced to 23 years and former interior minister Lee Sang-min to seven years.
- Yoon, 65, denies wrongdoing, arguing his martial law declaration was within presidential authority, and he is expected to appeal while remaining in detention.
- Prosecutors had requested capital punishment under a statute that allows death or life terms for insurrection, though South Korea has not carried out executions since 1997.
- The six-hour Dec. 3, 2024 martial law decree was overturned by an emergency parliamentary vote after mass public protests, an episode the court said caused enormous social costs and harmed trust in institutions.