A Seoul court sentenced former president Yoon Suk Yeol to life in prison after convicting him of insurrection for his brief declaration of martial law in 2024.
A court in South Korea has sentenced former president Yoon Suk Yeol to life in prison for leading an insurrection tied to his failed attempt to impose martial law in late 2024. The verdict came on 19 February 2026 in a high-profile trial that gripped the nation.
The Seoul Central District Court found Yoon guilty of mobilising military and police forces to seize control of the government after he declared martial law on 3 December 2024. Lawmakers quickly overturned the decree, and martial law lasted just hours before it collapsed.
Prosecutors had sought the death penalty, arguing that Yoonβs actions represented a grave threat to democracy. However, judges opted for life imprisonment, citing the lack of extreme violence and the limited duration of the martial law order.
The court said Yoonβs actions went beyond constitutional authority and amounted to insurrection. It ruled that Yoon tried to paralyse the National Assembly by sending troops to surround the legislature and stall its operations.
Yoonβs decree aimed to arrest lawmakers and suppress political opposition. Lawmakers eventually broke through a military blockade, restored parliamentary function, and lifted martial law unanimously.
The judges said Yoonβs martial law move caused far-reaching political divisions and weakened public trust in democratic institutions.
Yoon was impeached shortly after the martial law declaration. Lawmakers suspended him on 14 December 2024, and the Constitutional Court removed him from office in April 2025. He has remained in detention since last July as he faced multiple charges.
Last month, a Seoul court sentenced Yoon to five years in prison for related offences. Prosecutors proved that he resisted arrest and fabricated the martial law proclamation before issuing it without full Cabinet approval.
The court also convicted several of Yoonβs former officials. Judges handed former defence minister Kim Yong Hyun a 30-year prison term for planning the operation and mobilising troops. The court sentenced former prime minister Han Duck-soo to 23 years in jail for helping legitimise the decree.
Yoon repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. He claimed he declared martial law to counter what he called βanti-stateβ lawmakers. He accused the opposition of blocking his policies through its legislative majority.
Supporters gathered outside the Seoul court during the proceedings. Some protesters called for the death penalty. Others defended Yoon and argued that he acted in the nationβs best interest.
Yoonβs legal team announced plans to appeal the verdict. However, legal analysts say the higher courts are unlikely to overturn the life sentence easily.
The sentencing marks a historic moment in South Koreaβs democratic era. Analysts say it reinforces the idea that no leader, past or present, stands above the law. It also echoes past legal actions against former rulers who tried to wield unchecked power.
The case has also reignited debate over executive powers and checks and balances in government. Opponents of Yoon called the verdict vital for preserving democratic norms, while his supporters argue it deepens partisan tensions.
