South Korea’s ex-president accused of ‘drawing parallels between himself and Jesus’

WorldPolitics
7 Apr 2026 • 7:00 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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  • Jailed former South Korean leader Yoon Suk Yeol sent an Easter message from prison, urging the public to “hold onto the hope of salvation” and implying a parallel between his suffering and that of Jesus Christ.
  • Critics, including religious leaders and a conservative newspaper, condemned the message, accusing Yoon of portraying himself as a martyr rather than a wrongdoer and showing no remorse.
  • Yoon is serving a life sentence after being removed from office over his brief declaration of martial law in December 2024.
  • He was found guilty of rebellion and abuse of authority, with prosecutors having initially sought the death penalty.
  • Yoon is the first South Korean leader to receive the maximum custodial sentence, following the martial law episode, which caused significant public unrest.

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