Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has apologised for his brief martial law declaration in December 2024, but simultaneously criticised the court verdict that sentenced him to life in prison for allegedly orchestrating an insurrection.
In a statement released by his lawyers on Friday, Yoon acknowledged the public impact of his actions, saying he was sorry for the frustration and hardship brought upon citizens by the decree.
He nevertheless defended the motivations behind the move, asserting the sincerity and purpose of his decision.
The Seoul Central District Court sentenced Yoon to life imprisonment on Thursday, finding him guilty of subverting constitutional order by deploying troops to storm parliament and attempting to detain political opponents.
Yoon denounced the ruling as predetermined and accused the authorities of political retaliation.
“Forces that seek to smear a decision made to save the nation as an ‘insurrection’ and to use it beyond political attacks as an opportunity to purge and eliminate their opponents will only grow more rampant going forward,” Yoon said.
Despite the sentence, Yoon left open the possibility of an appeal, noting concerns over judicial independence.
“He questioned whether an appeal would have meaning in what he described as an environment where judicial independence could not be guaranteed, while telling supporters to ‘unite and rise,’” his lawyers clarified.
They also stated that the announcement did not signal an intention to forgo the appeal process.
Yoon’s martial law decree, which lasted approximately six hours, was ultimately voted down by parliament.
However, the brief declaration triggered widespread shock and sparked street protests, reaffirming the political turmoil that followed his attempt to assert extraordinary powers.
The court concluded that Yoon acted unlawfully, framing the deployment of troops and attempted detention of opponents as a direct assault on the constitutional order.
The verdict capped a dramatic political downfall that saw Yoon removed from office and imprisoned.
A special prosecutor had sought the death penalty, a sentence South Korea has not carried out since 1997. Prosecutors expressed some regret over the court’s sentencing but declined to indicate whether they would file an appeal.
Yoon, who had a career as a prosecutor before assuming the presidency, rejected claims of criminal intent, maintaining that the martial law declaration fell within his presidential authority.
He argued that the measure was intended to draw attention to obstruction by opposition parties and protect governmental functioning.
The life sentence has sparked intense debate across South Korea, with questions raised about the balance between political authority and constitutional safeguards.
Observers note that the case sets a significant precedent in the country’s modern political history, illustrating the severe consequences of executive overreach.
While Yoon expressed contrition for the disruption caused by his decree, he remained defiant, urging supporters to remain politically engaged.
“The evidence and interpretation of my actions will continue to be defended,” he said, calling for unity and vigilance among citizens and political allies.
The outcome of any appeal and subsequent legal proceedings will be closely watched both domestically and internationally, given Yoon’s status as a former head of state and the gravity of the charges.
