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 that these actions were an attempt to subvert the constitution and fundamentally damaged South Korea's democracy. The court found him guilty of masterminding an insurrection, citing the enormous social costs resulting from the declaration. Yoon has appealed the conviction, arguing that it is excessive. The case highlights the fragility of democratic institutions and the potential for abuse of power, even by democratically elected leaders, and remains a significant event in South Korean political history.