US EditionFormer Korean President Yoon Sentenced to Life Imprisonment
The court found Yoon guilty of mobilizing troops to block the National Assembly and attempt a coup, sentencing him to life after rejecting the death penalty despite prosecutors' request.
- On February 19, 2026, the Seoul Central District Court sentenced former president Yoon Suk Yeol to life imprisonment after finding him guilty of abuse of authority and masterminding an insurrection.
- On December 3, 2024, Yoon declared martial law late at night and ordered troops to surround the legislature, which was lifted after about six hours by lawmakers who voted to lift it.
- Judges concluded `The court finds that the intention was to paralyse the assembly for a considerable period`, citing acts of insurrection by dispatching armed soldiers and helicopters to the National Assembly.
- Yoon is likely to appeal and is expected to remain detained at the Seoul Detention Centre while appeals proceed, despite prosecutors and a special prosecutor seeking the death penalty.
- The ruling also convicted senior officials including Kim Yong-hyun, former Defence Minister, sentenced to 30 years, and Han Duck-soo, former Prime Minister, jailed for 23 years; the verdict closes a chapter that tested South Korea's democratic institutions and deepened national polarisation.
319 Articles
319 Articles
Former South Korean President Sentenced to Life in Prison for Leading an Insurrection, Follows Impeachment for Declaring Martial Law
Already a subscriber? Make sure to log into your account before viewing this content. You can access your account by hitting the “login” button on the top right corner. Still unable to see the content after signing in? Make sure your card on file is up-to-date. The former president of South Korea has been found guilty of leading an insurrection and sentenced to life imprisonment after his failed attempt to impose martial law in 2024. S…
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Former South Korean president sentenced to life in prison for imposing martial law
In South Korea, a court sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to life in prison after it found him guilty of leading an insurrection. While it's a dark mark for the country, some argue it's a bright spot for its young democracy. Nick Schifrin reports on how a few short, tumultuous hours challenged South Korea.
Former President Jun Sok-yeol was sentenced to life in prison for declaring a state of emergency and deploying the military over his own parliament.
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