I. Early Life and Professional Formation
Yoon Suk Yeol was born on 18 December 1960 in Seoul, into a family with strong academic roots – his father and mother both served as university professors. He pursued legal studies at Seoul National University, completing both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in law. He passed the exceptionally competitive Korean bar exam and embarked on a career in the public prosecutor service, rapidly gaining recognition for his integrity and prosecutorial acumen.
His early career was marked by a reputation as a meticulous and courageous prosecutor. Yoon developed particular public prominence when he played key roles in high‑profile corruption cases against former presidents and major political figures. These prosecutions – especially against figures like Park Geun‑hye and Lee Myung‑bak – greatly enhanced his profile as a champion of accountability in public life.
In 2019, he was appointed Prosecutor General of South Korea, a position in which he oversaw investigations that sometimes put him at odds with the left‑leaning government then in power. His willingness to take on powerful elites suggested a commitment to the rule of law, but also foreshadowed the highly polarized politics that would later define his presidency.
II. Presidential Ascent and Election Victory
In 2022, Yoon transitioned from a non‑party prosecutor general to a fervently political figure. Running as the candidate of the conservative People Power Party, he campaigned on promises of economic reform, deregulation, and a tough stance on national security. He narrowly defeated his rival from the liberal Democratic Party, signaling a shift in voter sentiment and skepticism toward established political forces.
His election was initially interpreted as a mandate for change – if not unity. A seasoned lawman with deep experience in confronting corruption, Yoon’s rise to the presidency was seen by many as a victory for a conservative push toward law‑and‑order governance and a stronger global posture.
III. Presidency: Policies, World Affairs, and Mounting Strife
Yoon’s presidency began with significant foreign‑policy activity. He sought to strengthen ties with key strategic partners, especially the United States and Japan, in light of heightened regional tensions, particularly around North Korea’s nuclear ambitions. This effort built on his reputation for stability and firm national security leadership.
Domestically, however, his administration faced intense controversy. His policy priorities – economic deregulation, reforms to labor markets, and a shift in gender‑policy discussions – generated stiff opposition from liberal factions. Political polarization deepened as the National Assembly, controlled by opposition parties, frequently blocked Yoon’s legislative agenda.
These political clashes set the stage for what critics would later describe as the defining crisis of his presidency: the December 2024 martial law declaration.
IV. The December 2024 Crisis and Martial Law Declaration
On 3 December 2024, Yoon declared martial law in South Korea in a stunning and unprecedented move. He justified this extraordinary decree as necessary to counter what he labeled as “anti‑state forces” – a characterization aimed at opposition lawmakers whom he accused of obstructing governance. In doing so, he mobilised military and security forces to surround the National Assembly and support his decree, which sought to halt parliamentary functions and arrest key political figures.
There had been tensions and disputes between the executive and legislative branches for months, but few anticipated such a drastic action. Martial law had not been declared since the authoritarian era of the 1980s, and the implications of invoking it in a democratic system were immediately destabilising.
Though Yoon argued that the measure was aimed at preventing the paralysis of the government, the martial law decree lasted only about six hours before it was rescinded after lawmakers successfully circumvented military blockades and voted to revoke it. The episode triggered mass protests and deep public unease.
V. Impeachment, Legal Battle, and Political Isolation
The December 2024 martial law declaration catalysed a constitutional crisis. On 14 December 2024, the National Assembly voted to impeach Yoon, ruling that his martial law declaration violated the Constitution. While impeachment does not automatically remove a president, it suspends powers pending a ruling by the Constitutional Court.
During the impeachment proceedings, Yoon remained defiant, refusing to cooperate with prosecutors and resisting arrest attempts. He was suspended from duties, and officials such as the Prime Minister were acting heads of state. Decision‑making powers – including military command – were transferred away from him even before the constitutional court finally upheld his impeachment in April 2025, effectively ending his presidency.
The political isolation of Yoon also extended to his own party. Faced with mounting backlash, the People Power Party sought to distance itself from his controversial leadership in mid‑2025.
VI. Criminal Trials and Conviction
Following his removal from office, Yoon’s legal troubles intensified. Prosecutors brought multiple criminal charges relating to his actions around the martial law declaration, arguing that he committed abuses of power, obstructed justice, falsified documents, and staged an insurrection.
In January 2026, a Seoul Central District Court convicted Yoon on obstruction and related charges, sentencing him to five years in prison for blocking arrest attempts and illegally mobilizing security forces.
The most pivotal trial was on charges of leading an insurrection – defined under Korean law as using force against the constitutional order. On 19 February 2026, the court delivered a historic verdict: Yoon was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Judges ruled that his declaration of martial law and military mobilisation aimed to “paralyse” the National Assembly and establish unchecked power—a move that constituted rebellion against the constitution. Prosecutors had even sought the death penalty, though this was not applied.
Several of Yoon’s former cabinet members and military officials were also convicted, with sentences ranging from lengthy prison terms to life imprisonment. The former Defense Minister, for example, received a 30‑year sentence for his involvement in the martial law plan.
Yoon continues to deny wrongdoing and is pursuing appeals, even while incarcerated. His cases are among the most consequential legal judgments in South Korea’s democratic history – unparalleled in their severity.
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