Seoul: National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik on Thursday urged former President Yoon Suk Yeol to apologize to the public after the ousted president was sentenced to life imprisonment for his failed bid to impose martial law in 2024. In the first verdict on Yoon's insurrection charges, the Seoul Central District Court convicted Yoon of leading an insurrection through the martial law bid and handed down a sentence lighter than the death penalty recommended by special prosecutors.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Woo Won-shik expressed his hope that ex-President Yoon would repent his wrongdoing and offer a sincere apology to the people. Woo made these remarks to reporters following the court's announcement of the verdict. The court's decision legally confirms that the martial law attempt on December 3, 2024, constituted an act of insurrection.

Woo also conveyed his regret over the court considering the failed insurrection as a mitigating factor in Yoon's sentencing. He emphasized that Yoon's attempt to impose martial law did not fail due to insufficient preparation but rather because of resistance from the National Assembly and the public.