The life sentence removes any near-term path for Yoon to re-enter politics and hardens the legal consequences for senior officials linked to the 2024 martial-law episode. Prosecutors’ failure to secure the death penalty clarifies the upper bound of punishment in this case, shaping plea and litigation strategy for related defendants. The ruling also sets a concrete judicial finding that the martial-law declaration constituted insurrection leadership, tightening legal exposure for anyone alleged to have planned, ordered, or executed the action.