By Abiola Olawale
The Seoul Central District Court in South Korea has sentenced former President of the country Yoon Suk Yeol to life in prison.
The verdict, delivered on February 19, 2026, finds Yoon guilty of leading an insurrection following his short-lived and controversial declaration of martial law in December 2024.
Presiding Judge Ji Gwi-yeon stated that Yoon’s actions—which included deploying armed troops to the National Assembly and attempting to arrest political opponents—constituted a clear attempt to subvert the country’s democratic framework.
”The defendant proactively planned an offense that resulted in enormous social costs,” Judge Ji said during the televised sentencing. “It is difficult to find any indication that the defendant has expressed remorse.”
While special prosecutors had sought the death penalty, the court opted for life imprisonment. Judges noted that while the crime was “grave,” the lack of casualties and the “lack of meticulous planning” during the six-hour crisis factored into the decision to avoid capital punishment.
South Korea has an unofficial moratorium on capital punishment — the last prisoners were executed in 1997 — with a death sentence effectively banishing Yoon to life behind bars.
Recall that Yoon broke into late-night TV on December 3, 2024, to deliver a shock address to the nation.
Pointing to vague threats of North Korean influence and dangerous “anti-state forces”, he declared the suspension of civilian government and the start of military rule.
Martial law was lifted six hours later after lawmakers raced to the assembly building to hold an emergency vote.
