SEOUL, South Korea — Former President Yoon Suk-yeol has been sentenced to life in prison after a South Korean court found him guilty of masterminding an insurrection through his declaration of martial law in December 2024. The ruling was handed down by the Seoul Central District Court on Thursday, February 19, 2026, in a verdict broadcast live across the nation.

The court determined that Yoon’s attempt to impose martial law was an illegal bid to seize power from the opposition-controlled National Assembly. Judges noted that Yoon mobilized military and police forces to surround the legislature, arrest lawmakers, and consolidate authority under his administration. “It is recognized that Yoon Suk-yeol acted with the purpose of subverting the constitutional order,” the court said in its decision.

Prosecutors had sought the death penalty, arguing that Yoon’s actions inflicted “enormous social costs” and destabilized the country’s democratic institutions. However, the court opted for life imprisonment, citing the severity of the offense and Yoon’s lack of remorse. Former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who was accused of aiding the insurrection, was sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Yoon, who served as president from 2022 until his impeachment in early 2025, fell from power after his martial law declaration triggered mass protests and condemnation from civil society. His downfall marked one of the most dramatic political crises in South Korea’s recent history, testing the resilience of its democratic system.

The verdict is considered one of the most consequential rulings against a former head of state in South Korea, underscoring the judiciary’s commitment to upholding democratic principles. Analysts say the case will likely shape future debates on presidential powers and accountability in the country.

Yoon’s legal team has indicated plans to appeal the ruling, but for now, the former president remains behind bars as South Korea grapples with the political and social fallout of his failed attempt to override constitutional governance.

Image from Peoples Dispatch