A former president of South Korea has avoided the death penalty after he was found guilty of masterminding an insurrection during his botched attempt to place the country under martial law. 

Yoon Suk Yeol was sentenced to life in prison on Thursday after a Seoul court found him guilty of mobilising military and police forces in an illegal attempt to seize the liberal-led National Assembly, arrest politicians and establish unchecked power for a considerable time in December 2025. 

South Korea’s former President Yoon Suk Yeol has been found guilty of leading an insurrection in December 2024

A special prosecutor had demanded the death penalty for Yoon, saying his actions posed a threat to the country’s democracy and deserved the most serious punishment available, but most analysts expect a life sentence.

Yoon is likely to appeal the verdict. 

The former president, a staunch conservative, has defended his martial law decree on December 3, 2024, as a necessary act of governance against the liberals, who he described as ‘anti-state’ forces obstructing his agenda with their legislative majority.

This is a breaking story, more to follow.