ISTANBUL

South Korea's ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol on Friday defended his martial law bid in December 2024, after getting a life sentence a day earlier.

"My judgment and decision to declare martial law on Dec. 3 was solely for the country and the people," he said in a statement shared by his legal team, according to the Seoul-based Yonhap News Agency.

"While it was a decision to save the nation, I deeply apologize to the people for making you experience much despair and suffering due to my shortcomings," he added.

Yoon was handed down a life sentence on 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."

"It is difficult to accept the logic that troops going to the National Assembly amounted to insurrection," Yoon said in the statement.

He was indicted in January 2025 on charges of leading an insurrection after declaring martial law, which lasted approximately six hours before being overturned.

Yoon had explained his declaration of martial law as an act of governance aimed at "protecting" the state just a few days after the decree. In the declaration, he claimed to "root out anti-state forces" and accused the election commission of interference, but provided no evidence.

Yoon is the first sitting president in South Korean history to be taken into custody and convicted.