As it happened: Former South Korea leader Yoon Suk Yeol sentenced to life in prison for insurrection
Masterminding an insurrection carries a maximum sentence of the death penalty or life imprisonment under South Korean law.
Supporters of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol watch the proceedings of his sentencing trial in his insurrection case, stemming from his short-lived declaration of martial law in December 2024, on a screen outside the Seoul Central District Court in Seoul, South Korea, Feb 19, 2026. (Photo: Reuters/Kim Hong-ji)
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South Korea's court on Thursday (Feb 19) sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to life in prison for leading an insurrection during his botched attempt to place the country under martial law in December 2024.
Prosecutors had previously demanded that the 65-year-old be sentenced to death for his role.
The verdict, closely watched in a deeply divided country, was the most consequential yet for the ousted leader, whose attempt to impose emergency rule triggered a national political crisis and tested the resilience of South Korea’s democratic institutions.
Masterminding an insurrection carries a maximum sentence of the death penalty or life imprisonment under South Korean law.
