South Korea convicts ex-President Yoon Suk-yeol for insurrection

South Korea convicts ex-President Yoon Suk-yeol for insurrection

February 20, 2026

South Korea’s former President Yoon Suk-yeol has been found guilty of masterminding an insurrection over his short-lived imposition of martial law in 2024.
The Seoul Central District Court sentenced Yoon to life in prison after ruling that he was the leader of the December 3, 2024 insurrection.
It also convicted and sentenced several former military and police officials involved in enforcing Yoon’s martial law decree, including ex-Defence Minister Kim Yong Hyun, who received a 30-year jail term.
Yoon, 65, has maintained his innocence throughout his court appearances and is likely to appeal the verdict.
Prosecutors had sought the death penalty for Yoon who was impeached and removed from office over his declaration of martial law.

19 Feb 2026 - 11:02
(11:02 GMT)
It’s a wrap
This live page is now closed. Thank you for joining us.
Here’s our detailed story on the life sentence handed down to South Korea’s former President Yoon Suk-yeol.
19 Feb 2026 - 11:00
(11:00 GMT)
Recap
We will be closing this live page shortly. But before we do, here’s a recap of the day’s major developments:
South Korea’s former President Yoon Suk-yeol has been given a life sentence due to insurrection after his short-lived martial law declaration in 2024.
Yoon’s lawyers have argued that the ruling was not supported by evidence in the case and would discuss with the former president if he wanted to appeal the guilty verdict.
The Seoul Central Court also convicted former PM Han Duck-soo and handed him a 23-year prison sentence for attempting to legitimise the martial law decree by forcing it through a Cabinet Council meeting, falsifying records and lying under oath.
South Korea’s former Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun has been sentenced to 30 years in prison over his role in the failed martial law attempt.
Amnesty International called Yoon’s guilty verdict an “important step” towards accountability.
19 Feb 2026 - 10:55
(10:55 GMT)
As pro-Yoon supporters rally, anti-Yoon protesters call for harsher verdict
Outside the court sentencing, thousands of Yoon supporters rallied for the former president, holding placards that read “Yoon Great Again” and “Drop the charge”.
But at a counterprotest, anti-Yoon demonstrators were disappointed by the verdict, arguing for harsher penalties and that the former leader had gotten off lightly.
“We, of course, expected the death penalty, so we are very disappointed that a life sentence was handed down,” protester Lim Choon-hee, 60, told AFP.
Jung Won-chul, a former marine, also said it was “deeply disappointing that someone who should have received an extremely severe punishment for attempting to overthrow the democratic system of the Republic of Korea was instead given life imprisonment”.
19 Feb 2026 - 10:50
(10:50 GMT)
Who is Kim Keon-hee, the former president’s wife?
Before Yoon’s life-sentencing verdict, his wife, Kim Keon-hee, faced her own legal troubles.
Last month, Hee, 53, was sentenced to 20 months in jail after being found guilty of accepting Chanel bags and a diamond pendant from the Unification Church in exchange for political favours, a claim she has denied.
The lead judge of the three-justice bench stated that, although she does not hold any formal power, the first lady occupies a symbolic role representing the country.
“A person who was in such a position might not always be a role model, but the person must not be a bad example to the public,” Woo In-sung said in the ruling.
She was cleared of other charges of stock price manipulation and violating the Political Funds Act. According to media reports, prosecutors will appeal against the not-guilty verdicts.
A statement from her lawyers said she “humbly accepts the court’s stern criticism” and is “sorry for causing public concern”.
Kim Keon-hee, former first lady and the wife of South Korea’s ousted President Yoon Suk-yeol [Jung Yeon-Je, Pool/Getty Images]
19 Feb 2026 - 10:46
(10:46 GMT)
National Assembly speaker urges Yoon to apologise to the public
South Korea’s National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik has urged Yoon to apologise to the public after the sentencing.
“I hope ex-President Yoon repents his wrongdoing and offers a sincere apology to the people,” Woo told reporters after the court made the announcement.
19 Feb 2026 - 10:30
(10:30 GMT)
Photos: Tears as pro-Yoon protesters find out verdict
Supporters of Yoon react as they watch a livestream of the court proceedings in Seoul [Jung Yeon-je/AFP]
[Jung Yeon-je/AFP]
[Jung Yeon-je/AFP]
[Yonhap via Reuters]
19 Feb 2026 - 10:10
(10:10 GMT)
Timeline: What led to Yoon Suk-yeol’s ruling?
On December 3, 2024, Yoon declared martial law.
But the order was rescinded about six hours later after the National Assembly voted 190 to 0 in favour of its withdrawal.
On December 14, the National Assembly approved a motion to impeach Yoon.
In January 2025, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials sought an arrest warrant for Yoon, leading him to become the first sitting president in Korean history to be arrested.
In April, the Constitutional Court upheld Yoon’s removal from office, and the Seoul Central District Court opened his trial on charges of leading an insurrection.
Two months later, Korea held a snap election that elected Lee Jae Myung as president, and a special counsel team was launched to investigate the alleged insurrection.
Last month, the special counsel team sought the death penalty, citing the seriousness of the alleged insurrection.
19 Feb 2026 - 09:50
(09:50 GMT)
What did the presiding judge say at the sentencing?
Presiding judge Ji Gwi-yeon said Yoon sent troops to the assembly building in an effort to silence political opponents who had frustrated his attempts to govern.
“The court finds that the intention was to paralyse the assembly for a considerable period,” Ji told the Seoul Central District Court.
“The declaration of martial law resulted in enormous social costs, and it is difficult to find any indication that the defendant has expressed remorse for that.
“We sentence Yoon to life imprisonment.”
19 Feb 2026 - 09:30
(09:30 GMT)
Latest developments
South Korea’s former President Yoon Suk-yeol has been given a life sentence due to insurrection after his short-lived martial law declaration in 2024.
Yoon’s lawyers have argued that the ruling was not supported by evidence in the case and would discuss with the former president if he wanted to appeal the guilty verdict.
The Seoul Central Court also convicted former PM Han Duck-soo and handed him a 23-year prison sentence for attempting to legitimise the martial law decree by forcing it through a Cabinet Council meeting, falsifying records and lying under oath.
South Korea’s former Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun has been sentenced to 30 years in prison over his role in the failed martial law attempt.
Amnesty International called Yoon’s guilty verdict an “important step” towards accountability.
19 Feb 2026 - 09:10
(09:10 GMT)
WATCH: Yoon given five-year sentence last month
Last month, Yoon was sentenced to five years in prison for resisting arrest, fabricating the martial law proclamation and sidestepping a legally mandated full cabinet meeting before declaring martial law.
Watch our report below:
1:53
South Korea’s ex-president Yoon given 5-year jail term in martial law case
19 Feb 2026 - 08:50
(08:50 GMT)
‘No one is above the law in South Korea,’ says Amnesty International
Amnesty International has called Yoon’s guilty verdict an “important step” towards accountability.
Amnesty’s Deputy Regional Director Sarah Brooks said in a statement that the court’s decision proved that “no one is above the law in South Korea, including a former president”.
“This ruling holds Yoon accountable for the unlawful imposition of martial law in December 2024, which lacked proper legal justification under both domestic and international law and placed fundamental rights at risk,” Brooks said.
“South Korea’s independent courts and citizen resistance have shown how the rule of law and strong institutional checks can effectively counter authoritarian practices. This decision must now be followed by comprehensive measures to ensure such violations never happen again.”
19 Feb 2026 - 08:30
(08:30 GMT)
Yoon far from first South Korean leader to be facing prison time
Park Geun-hye became South Korea’s first woman president in 2013.
But the daughter of the late authoritarian President Park Chung-hee was accused of receiving or requesting tens of millions of dollars from conglomerates. Additional allegations included sharing classified documents, putting artists critical of her policies on a “blacklist”, and dismissing officials who opposed her.
In December 2016, Park was impeached by parliament. In March 2017, the Constitutional Court confirmed the decision, leading to her indictment and imprisonment.
In 2021, she was sentenced to 20 years in prison but at the end of that year, she was pardoned by her successor, Moon Jae-in.
Yoon was a Seoul prosecutor at the time and played a key role in her dismissal and subsequent imprisonment.
Ex-South Korean President Park Geun-hye arrives at a court in Seoul on August 7, 2017 [Kim Hong-Ji/Reuters]
19 Feb 2026 - 08:20
(08:20 GMT)
Timeline: What led to Yoon arrest in 2025?
Yoon Suk-yeol, who became president in May 2022, plunged the country into turmoil after he briefly imposed martial law on December 3, 2024.
According to prosecutors, Yoon’s decision to ban political activities and order armed forces to seize the National Assembly amounted to an insurrection. He was forced to withdraw the order six hours later.
Yoon explained that his decision to enact martial law was to issue a “warning” to the opposition, describing the legislature as a “den of criminals” who had blocked his government.
By December 14, Yoon was impeached and, in January, was arrested on the insurrection charge, becoming the first sitting president to receive a criminal charge in the country’s history.
19 Feb 2026 - 08:10
(08:10 GMT)
Yoon’s lawyers claim court ruling not backed by evidence
Following the court’s decision, Yoon’s lawyers have said that the ruling had only affirmed a “pre-written script” and claimed that it was not supported by evidence in the case, without elaborating.
His lawyers added that they would be discussing with Yoon whether or not he wanted to appeal the case.
19 Feb 2026 - 08:00
(08:00 GMT)
Prosecutor had demanded life sentence for Yoon
A special prosecutor had demanded the death penalty for Yoon, saying his actions posed a threat to the country’s democracy and deserved the most serious punishment available.
South Korea has not executed a death row inmate since 1997, in what is widely seen as a de facto moratorium on capital punishment amid calls for its abolition.
19 Feb 2026 - 07:54
(07:54 GMT)
Yoon’s sentencing was broadcast live from court
Last week, a court had allowed live broadcast of the sentencing for former President Yoon Suk-yeol, Yonhap news agency reported.
The Seoul Central District Court said it accepted broadcasters’ request to air the verdict. This was the second time Yoon’s sentencing hearing was televised live.
The court permitted live broadcast of Yoon being sentenced to five years in prison last month on charges that included the obstruction of investigators’ attempt to detain him last year.
19 Feb 2026 - 07:50
(07:50 GMT)
Verdict brings political turmoil to a close … for now
By Jack Barton
Reporting from Seoul
Yoon is just one of several figures but the most prominent.
This verdict is really bringing to a close, at least until the appeal, this period of political turmoil following the martial law that led to months of street protests and led to the national assembly impeaching him.
Yoon was the first sitting South Korean president to be arrested, second to be successfully impeached and the third to face trial over insurrection.
19 Feb 2026 - 07:40
(07:40 GMT)
Photos: Protests in support of Yoon in Seoul
Supporters of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol stage a rally outside of Seoul Central District Court in Seoul, South Korea [Ahn Young-joon/AP Photo]
[Ahn Young-joon/AP Photo]
[Ahn Young-joon/AP Photo]

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