Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been sentenced to life in prison for his role in a brief declaration of martial law in December 2024, marking a historic moment as he becomes the first elected leader to receive such a severe punishment for insurrection. In his first reaction to the ruling, Yoon remained defiant, stating through his lawyers that his actions were taken 'solely for the sake of the nation and our people' and dismissed the Seoul Central District Court as biased against him. He did not clarify whether he would appeal the decision, maintaining his resistance despite the gravity of his conviction (South China Morning Post, ABC International). This ruling has been described as the country's biggest criminal trial in decades, raising significant concerns about the preservation of democracy in South Korea (New York Times).