Ji Gwi-yeon

Yoon Suk-yeol, the former president of South Korea, is currently newsworthy due to his conviction and sentencing to life in prison for insurrection. In December 2024, Yoon declared martial law, deploying troops to seal off the National Assembly and ordering the arrest of politicians. A Seoul court ruled these actions an attempt to subvert the constitution and damage South Korea's democracy. The court found Yoon guilty of masterminding an insurrection, citing the enormous social costs resulting from the martial law declaration. He was sentenced to life in prison in February 2026. Yoon has appealed the conviction, arguing that the sentence is excessive. The case highlights the fragility of democratic institutions and the consequences of attempting to undermine them.