South Korea: Former President Yoon Appeals Life Sentence

Former South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has appealed his life sentence, his lawyers announced on Tuesday. Yoon was convicted of organizing an insurrection in 2024 when he declared martial law.

The court found Yoon guilty of mobilizing military and police forces in an attempt to seize the National Assembly. Judge Ji Koo-yoon stated that Yoon sought to arrest politicians and consolidate his power.

A special prosecutor had requested the death penalty for Yoon, calling his actions a threat to democracy. South Korea has not carried out any executions since 1997.