Former South Korean president appeals life sentence over martial law decree

Yoon's legal team filed the appeal five days after the Seoul Central District Court sentenced him to life imprisonment, according to Yonhap News Agency.

In a statement to the media, Yoon’s lawyers said they were challenging both the legal reasoning and broader implications of the verdict.

“We think we have a responsibility to clearly point out the problems with this decision for not only court records but for future historical records,” the legal team said, accusing prosecutors of pursuing an “overzealous indictment” and criticizing what they described as contradictions in the lower court’s decision.

Yoon was handed a life sentence Thursday for leading an insurrection in connection with his attempt to impose martial law.

The Seoul Central District Court convicted Yoon of acting as an "insurrection ringleader."

Last month, Yoon was also sentenced to five years in prison on charges that he obstructed investigators’ attempt to detain him last year.

The ousted president has faced eight trial proceedings, including two in which he has been convicted.