Ex-South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol jailed for life over failed martial law bid

A court in Seoul has sentenced former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to life imprisonment after finding him guilty of leading an insurrection linked to his controversial declaration of martial law in December 2024.

The verdict was delivered on February 19, 2026, by the Seoul Central District Court, with Presiding Judge Ji Gwi-yeon ruling that Yoon’s actions amounted to a direct attempt to undermine the country’s democratic order.

According to the court, Yoon deployed armed troops to the National Assembly and sought the arrest of political opponents during the six-hour crisis. Judge Ji stated during the televised sentencing that the former president had “proactively planned an offense that resulted in enormous social costs,” adding that it was “difficult to find any indication that the defendant has expressed remorse.”

Although special prosecutors had pushed for the death penalty, the court opted for life imprisonment. The judges acknowledged that while the offence was “grave,” the absence of casualties and what they described as a “lack of meticulous planning” influenced the decision to spare him capital punishment.

South Korea has observed an unofficial moratorium on executions since 1997, meaning a death sentence would likely have translated into life imprisonment in practice.

Yoon’s conviction stems from events on December 3, 2024, when he made a surprise late-night televised address declaring martial law. Citing unspecified threats of North Korean influence and “anti-state forces,” he announced the suspension of civilian government and the imposition of military rule.

However, lawmakers swiftly mobilized, racing to the National Assembly to convene an emergency session. Within six hours, the declaration of martial law was overturned through a parliamentary vote, restoring civilian authority.

The dramatic episode marked one of the most turbulent moments in South Korea’s recent political history and has now culminated in a historic life sentence for a former head of state.