The leader of South Korea’s main opposition People Power Party expressed regret on Friday as former President Yoon Suk Yeol received a life sentence for leading an insurrection through a brief imposition of martial law. Rep. Jang Dong-hyeok conveyed this sentiment during a press conference at the National Assembly, hinting that the conservative party might not completely cut ties with the ousted president. The martial law crisis, which caused significant political turmoil, has left the nation grappling with one of its worst political upheavals in decades.
Special prosecutors had pushed for the death penalty for Yoon, but the court ultimately sentenced him to life imprisonment after finding him guilty of leading an insurrection during the December 3, 2024, martial law. Despite South Korea’s successful navigation through the political crisis triggered by the martial law turmoil, the conservative party remains deeply divided regarding the aftermath of the martial law saga.
Jang emphasized that this initial verdict is just the beginning and stressed the importance of applying the right to be presumed innocent uniformly to all individuals. The People Power Party has consistently argued that Yoon’s declaration of martial law does not automatically equate to insurrection, a stance supported by numerous legal experts and constitutional scholars. Jang criticized the court for failing to establish that Yoon’s short-lived martial law imposition amounted to insurrection.
Addressing the growing calls within the party to sever connections with the former president, Jang cautioned against continually demanding apologies and cutting ties, warning that such actions only foster division. Furthermore, he criticized President Lee Jae Myung for suspending all five of his trials through the exercise of presidential immunity and urged the court to promptly resume these trials.
