SEOUL, South Korea – Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been sentenced to life imprisonment after a Seoul court found him guilty of leading an insurrection tied to his controversial and unprecedented declaration of martial law in December 2024. The verdict, delivered on February 19, 2026marks a historic moment in South Korea’s democratic evolution, underscoring its judiciary’s resolve to uphold constitutional order.
Who is Yoon Suk Yeol?
Yoon Suk Yeol, born on 18 December 1960is a South Korean politician and former prosecutor who rose to prominence as the Prosecutor General of South Korea from 2019 to 2021. He later entered politics as the candidate of the conservative People Power Party (PPP)winning the 2022 presidential election.
During his presidency, Yoon was known for his hardline stance on law enforcement and bold political decisions. His time in office, however, became deeply divisive, culminating in one of the worst constitutional crises since South Korea adopted democratic rule in 1987.
The December 2024 Martial Law Crisis
On 3 December 2024Yoon declared martial law in an attempt to override legislative processes, deploying military and police units around the National Assembly and ordering the arrest of opposition lawmakers. The move triggered immediate outrage, mass protests, and a dramatic political backlash.
The National Assembly swiftly overturned the martial law decree within hours, and public opposition mounted. Parliament voted to impeach Yoonsuspending his powers, and he was formally removed from office months later after a constitutional court upheld his impeachment.
Insurrection Trial and Conviction
Following his removal, Yoon faced multiple criminal charges, the most serious being insurrection — a charge that carries a potential sentence of life imprisonment or even the death penalty under South Korean law.
In February 2026, a Seoul court found Yoon guilty of orchestrating the insurrection through his illegal declaration of martial law and attempts to undermine democratic institutions. Although prosecutors had sought the death penaltythe court instead sentenced Yoon to life imprisonment with labouracknowledging the gravity of his actions while taking into account legal and societal factors.
This verdict makes Yoon the first democratically elected South Korean president to be convicted of insurrection and receive the maximum custodial sentence for such a crime.
Denial of Charges and Ongoing Legal Battles
Throughout his trial, Yoon consistently denied wrongdoing. He characterized his martial law decision as a constitutional exercise of presidential authority, claiming it was necessary to confront what he described — without offering evidence — as political obstruction and alleged electoral fraud.
Yoon has also faced related convictions, including sentences in separate cases for abuse of power, obstruction of justice, and falsifying official documents.
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