A Seoul court on Thursday sentenced South Korea’s ex-president Yoon Suk Yeol to life in prison for leading an insurrection tied to a failed attempt to impose military rule, marking one of the most serious criminal convictions of a former leader in the country’s history.
Judges ruled that the ex-president violated the constitution on Dec. 3, 2024, when he ordered troops to seal off the National Assembly and instructed authorities to detain politicians.
Presiding judge Ji Gwi-yeon said the actions caused grave damage to democratic order and required the harshest punishment short of death. Prosecutors had sought the death penalty.
South Korea’s ex-president faces public fury and legal rejection
Yoon’s declaration of martial law lasted only hours, but the court said the move deepened political divisions nationwide. Those divisions were evident outside the courthouse, where large crowds of supporters gathered early, holding banners and openly weeping after the verdict. Opponents also rallied nearby, calling for a death sentence.
Yoon remained expressionless as the ruling was read. His lawyers rejected the verdict, arguing it was unsupported by evidence and claiming the outcome had been decided in advance. If either side appeals, the case will move to the Supreme Court, delaying a final judgment for months.
🚨 BREAKING:
South Korea’s former president Yoon Suk Yeol jailed for life for leading insurrection
Four of the last 6 presidents of South Korea have been jailed, haven’t they? pic.twitter.com/LfNd1fkcgb
— Neutral View (@neutral_view_) February 19, 2026
The crisis began when Yoon addressed the nation live on television and announced martial law, saying it was necessary to counter anti-state forces sympathetic to North Korea.
Judges later found that domestic pressures drove the decision. The opposition-controlled parliament was weakening Yoon’s authority, while his wife, Kim Keon Hee, faced corruption allegations.
Lawmakers forced their way into the National Assembly and voted to overturn the order the same night. The fallout triggered months of political turmoil, ending with Yoon’s impeachment and a series of indictments against senior officials.
Senior officials convicted in what judges called a top-down insurrection
Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo received a 23-year prison sentence last month for his role in the insurrection. Former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun was sentenced Thursday to 30 years after advising Yoon to impose martial law.
Other convicted officials included former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min, ex-intelligence commander Roh Sang-won, and former police chief Cho Ji-ho. Judges described the case as an insurrection driven from the top.
Security was tight during sentencing, with about 1,000 police officers deployed and buses blocking access to the court.
South Korea has not carried out executions since 1997, meaning a death sentence would have effectively amounted to life imprisonment. Yoon is already serving time for abusing power and obstructing his arrest, and still faces three additional trials. Several former presidents were later pardoned after short prison terms, a possibility some observers also raise in Yoon’s case.
