South Korean court hands life sentence to ex-president Yoon
February 19, 2026 / /
A South Korean court on Thursday sentenced former South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol to life in prison for declaring martial law in December 2024, convicting the 65-year-old of leading an insurrection and undermining the constitution.
The ruling by the Central District Court in Seoul marks a major milestone in one of the most significant political trials in the country’s recent history, after Yoon’s actions plunged South Korea into a severe constitutional crisis.
He can appeal the verdict.
Prosecutors had sought the death penalty for Yoon — the maximum sentence available under South Korean law for insurrection.
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