South Korean former President Yoon Suk Yeol has been sentenced to life in prison for causing insurrection through the declaration of martial law in 2024.

The presiding Judge Ji Gwi-yeon on Thursday sentenced Mr Yoon upon convicting him of inciting “insurrection” with the declaration of martial law about two years ago.

“As to defendant Yoon Suk Yeol, the crime of insurrection leadership is established,” Mr Gwi-yeon said. “We sentence Yoon to life imprisonment.”

Speaking further, the judge said Mr Yoon’s “declaration of martial law resulted in enormous social costs, and it is difficult to find any indication that the defendant has expressed remorse for that.”

Throughout his trial and final judgment on Thursday, Mr Yoon, 65, denied inciting insurrection with a martial law declaration.

The former Korean leader argued that it was within his power to do so to block opposition politicians from obstructing government operations.

Before the Thursday judgment, a Seoul Central District Court had ruled that Mr Yoon was the leader of the December 3, 2024, insurrection.

State prosecutors had pushed for the death penalty for Mr Yoon, who was impeached and removed from office over his declaration of martial law.

The court found that Mr Yoon’s declared martial law prompted the military to attempt to seize the Korean parliament in December 2024.