Former South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol issued a public apology Friday following his conviction and life sentence for orchestrating what the court described as a rebellion tied to his brief declaration of martial law in December 2024.
In a statement released through his attorney, Yoon expressed regret for the “frustration and suffering” caused by the decision but maintained that his actions were driven by sincerity and a national purpose.
On Thursday, the Seoul Central District Court sentenced Yoon to life imprisonment after finding him guilty of undermining the constitutional order. Prosecutors argued that he deployed troops to storm the National Assembly and detain political opponents, moves the court ruled amounted to an attempt to subvert democratic governance in South Korea.
Yoon criticized the ruling as predetermined and politically motivated, characterizing the verdict as an act of political retaliation.
The former president’s declaration of martial law lasted roughly six hours before lawmakers voted it down, but the move triggered nationwide protests and significant political turmoil.
The court concluded that the former leader’s actions destabilized the country’s constitutional framework, leading to his removal from office and subsequent imprisonment.
Yoon, a former prosecutor, has denied wrongdoing, arguing that he had presidential authority to impose martial law and that his decision was intended to address what he described as legislative obstruction by opposition parties.
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