Yoon Suk-Yeol, the former president of South Korea, faced significant public scrutiny as both supporters and critics gathered outside the court in Seoul during his court appearance. He was charged with orchestrating a rebellion and attempting a coup in December 2024, actions that had ignited a severe political crisis in the country. Following his controversial declaration of martial law and deployment of military troops to the parliament, the National Assembly unanimously voted to lift the martial law that had lasted a mere six hours. His presidency came crashing down as he was impeached on December 14, 2024, before being ousted from office in April 2025.

Since his arrest in July 2025, Yoon has been facing multiple charges, totaling eight cases against him. Earlier this year, he was sentenced to five years in prison for obstructing justice, but Thursday's ruling was particularly severe as he was found guilty of the more serious charge of rebellion. The prosecution had sought the death penalty, asserting that his actions posed a direct threat to democracy in South Korea. Yoon's sentence of life imprisonment reflects the gravity of his offenses and signifies how deeply the political upheaval has impacted the governance of the nation, potentially influencing future political dynamics in South Korea.