The Seoul central district court found that Yoon’s declaration of martial law on 3 December 2024 constituted insurrection, carried out with the intent to disrupt the constitutional order. Judge Jee Kui-youn said the purpose was “to send troops to the national assembly to blockade the assembly hall and arrest key figures, including the assembly speaker and party leaders, thereby preventing lawmakers from gathering to deliberate or vote.” In sentencing Yoon on Thursday, the court pointed to his lack of apology throughout the proceedings, his unjustified refusal to attend hearings, and the massive social costs his actions inflicted on South Korean society....
February 20, 2026
"... president... jailed for life for leading insurrection...."
Full headline, in The Guardian: "South Korea’s former president Yoon Suk Yeol jailed for life for leading insurrection/Ex-leader sentenced to life imprisonment with hard labour over failed martial law declaration in 2024."
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33 comments:
Ok, that's an "insurrection"? I thought an insurrection was when you gave a speech and some people trespassed afterward a mile away.
A leader whose first name was Yoon,
Has hummed a most treacherous tune.
For martial law’s sake,
A life sentence he’ll take—
Locked up like a power-mad loon. - Gemini
I did a very bad job of searching the internet to find out what counts as hard labor for a 65 year old former president.
“ Judge Jee Kui-youn said the purpose was ‘to send troops to the national assembly to blockade the assembly hall and arrest key figures….’” Assuming arguendo that there was actual evidence, that’s an insurrection!”
Sucker. The whole thing was to free up a couple million artillery shells that S Korea was holding back from Ukraine, his first act was to sign an order releasing the shells, which were in US custody already and began moving almost immediately.
Democracy is not any kind of impediment to those who love to fight these wars.
Good thing we're not a democracy then eh, Jaq.
Not sure where you get that out of what I said.
Good is Obama next?
I have never been comfortable with the notion that "lack of an apology" should have an impact on sentencing.
Hearing this should put a different spin on the reaction to various people who have called for military action against a legitimately elected President and for the military to disobey his orders, but I doubt it will.
The current president is a chinese stooge persecuting christian preachers
"The current president is a chinese stooge persecuting christian preachers"
There you go, the South Koreans elected somebody that the neocons don't like. It's always about persecution of some minority, isn't it. Whatever you do though, don't look for patterns!
Asian societies are big on apologies and repentance for violating society laws and norms. Usually in failed coup's you get executed, but here he just got jail time. No doubt he'll get a communted sentence in 5-10 years.
I have never been comfortable with the notion that "lack of an apology" should have an impact on sentencing.
Agree 100 percent. To me it is really a Fifth Amendment violation. (Not an issue in Korea, I guess). "Okay, you deny committing the crime, but we found that you did. If you admit it and apologize, we won't sentence you to the maximum punishment."
In jail they'll call him "Yoo Suk Kok."
tommyesq said...
"I have never been comfortable with the notion that "lack of an apology" should have an impact on sentencing."
Judge: You haven't shown any contrition -- extra penalty!
Def: But I'm innocent, I have nothing to apologize for.
Judge: The jury found you guilty -- apologize!
Def: I maintain my innocence!
Judge: Again, no contrition. Life without parole!
Def: But if apologize for something I didn't do, it will harm my ability to appeal.
Judge: Life, with hard labor.
dasdg
"Yoon claimed he was rooting out “anti-state forces” and alleged election fraud without providing evidence."
the progressives are happy.
South Korea has been naturally on the side of western freedom. Not any more.
If they executed him that would just be guaranteeing that the next coup would involve shooting.
The j6 scam on steroids
A politician that is accountable of his actions? Shocked. Nice to see that democracy is working somewhere at least.
The South Korean President who used extra judicial procedure to impose martial law is deposed. Contrast it with the US where the President with his army of MAGA thugs spread the big lie (election was stolen), and instigated insurgency to stay in power.
shorter kak - supporter of communism and fraud.
Nothing the South Korean government does is official until there's a fist fight in parliament. Or maybe that's Taiwan.
The other day an old man standing next to Taiwan's president threw up on (or perhaps near) the leader, probably because there hadn't been any fist fights lately and the populace needed a civics lesson.
Tommy Esq. I have never been comfortable with the notion that "lack of an apology" should have an impact on sentencing.
I remember the Polly Klass murder and some people seemed to be more outraged that the convicted killer gave the jury the finger than that he killed the child.
I sold all my South Korea stocks a few weeks ago. 2025 was a great year but I have no use for those countries that wish to criminalize politics.
declaring martial law is "politics"? preventing it is "criminal"?
how very odd.
Don't the South Koreans jail the previous leader as a matter of course?
Trump got elected again. The Progressives whining about J6 still don’t respect Democracy.
“.. president... jailed for life for leading insurrection...."
Feel sorry for any Dems who woke up this morning, read that, and thought they were in Heaven.
"Jailed for life"...boy, you know that's not gonna look good on his resume!
Don't blame Yoon Suk Yeol. He didn't start the fire.
Syngman Rhee, Yun Bo-seon and Park Chung-hee
Choi Kyu-han, Chun Doo-hwan, and Roh Tae Woo ...
North Korean leaders are easier to remember. It's always Kim something or other.
Taken at face value, trying to lead troops to overthrow the government is a "all in" move. If you succeed, you win. If you fail... well, ask Guy Fawkes for the usual penalty.
This guy got life with labor. Democrats in the US are running candidates that want to use the death penalty on their opponents, but who fully oppose using the death penalty on people like multiple child rapist/murderers.
The list of people Democrats have decided needing to be murdered include:
Kyle Rittenhouse, for the crime of putting down some convicted child molestors who were attacking him.
The Covington Catholic boys, for "Smirking while Catholic." The left demanded those boys be fed into a wood chipper -- none of the lethal injection stuff there.
Donald Trump (his execution is the main feature of the campaign of the Democrat candidate for Ohio AG).
The innocent children of a Republican in Virginia whom the newly elected Democrat AG wants to chop up and dump in their mother's lap before killing her too.
Of course, there's not an actual murderer or rapist on the list of people Democrats like Kak and Inga have decreed deserve to die. Some Democrats have added "every Jew" to that list too. With zero pushback from anyone else on the left, I might add.
South Korea is much more humane that US Democrats.
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