Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was sentenced to life imprisonment on Thursday by the Seoul Central District Court for leading an insurrection in late 2024. Judge Ji Gwi-yeon announced the verdict, stating Yoon was condemned to life in prison for initiating the uprising, narrowly avoiding the death penalty sought by prosecutors. The conviction stems from Yoon's surprise declaration of martial law on December 3, 2024, and his order for the military to occupy the National Assembly. Although a sufficient number of lawmakers managed to convene and pass a resolution against the move, forcing Yoon to retract the order, the brief six-hour suspension of civilian rule triggered a significant political crisis. Yoon had already been impeached in April for these actions.