South Korea Ex-President Jailed for Life
Last update: February 19, 2026
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Court sentences former president Yoon Suk Yeol to life imprisonment for insurrection...
A South Korean court on Thursday sentenced former president Yoon Suk Yeol to life imprisonment after finding him guilty of insurrection linked to his 2024 declaration of martial law.
The judgment, delivered at the Seoul Central District Court, followed months of legal proceedings over the controversial decision, which prosecutors argued was aimed at suppressing political opposition and weakening democratic institutions.
CBI News reports that Yoon had declared martial law in a televised national address in December 2024, saying drastic action was necessary to eliminate what he described as “anti-state forces.”
The move sparked widespread political tension and public outrage, with critics accusing him of undermining democracy.
Delivering the verdict, presiding judge Ji Gwi-yeon stated that the former president deployed troops to the legislature in an attempt to silence opponents.
“The Court finds that the intention was to paralyse the assembly for a considerable period,” Ji said.
The judge noted that the declaration carried grave consequences for the nation.
“The declaration of martial law resulted in enormous social costs, and it is difficult to find any indication that the defendant has expressed remorse for that,” the court held.
After reviewing the evidence, the court pronounced: “We sentence Yoon to life imprisonment.”
The martial law decree had targeted the National Assembly of South Korea.
