00:00A South Korean court sentenced former President Yoon Sook-yoo to life in prison on Thursday.
00:07He was found guilty of masterminding an insurrection linked to his December 2024 attempt to impose martial law.
00:17Prosecutors had sought the death penalty in the case, which was closely watched in a deeply divided country.
00:24It's the most consequential of a series of trials for the ousted leader.
00:31Hundreds of Yoon's supporters held rallies near the court, holding up Yoon-again banners.
00:39Given how much the rule of law has eroded in the Republic of Korea, we had hoped for an acquittal.
00:48But we see today's result as a challenge our country now has to work through.
00:56Meanwhile, some residents shared a different view.
01:02South Korean citizens have been so deeply polarised, pitted against each other.
01:08I really think it should have been the death sentence, so that this doesn't become an example to repeat.
01:12Martial law must never be allowed.
01:18Judge Ji-Kui Yun said Yun conspired with his then-defense minister, Kim Yong-hian.
01:24He said that Yun subverted a constitutional order by deploying troops to parliament,
01:30intending to paralyze its functions,
01:32and that the martial law declaration has caused an enormous social cost.
01:39Yun's defense team says they'll discuss with him whether to appeal the ruling.
01:45Yun's attempt to impose martial law lasted only about six hours before it was met by large street protests
01:52and voted down by parliament.
01:54The incident sent shockwaves through Asia's fourth-largest economy,
02:00long considered one of the world's most resilient democracies.
02:03Yun's tough rebellion is always a normal word,
02:06Yun's defense team said it'sinal
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