Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol Sentenced to Life in Prison
Seoul, South Korea – Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was sentenced to life in prison on Thursday, February 19, 2026, for his actions related to the brief imposition of martial law in December 2024. The Seoul Central District Court found him guilty of rebellion for attempting to illegally seize control of the government and suppress dissent.
Martial Law Declaration and Impeachment
Judge Jee Kui-youn stated that Yoon mobilized military and police forces in an unlawful attempt to target the liberal-led National Assembly, arrest politicians, and establish unchecked power for a “considerable” time.1 The decree lasted approximately six hours before being lifted after lawmakers broke through a military blockade and unanimously voted to rescind it.
Yoon was suspended from office on December 14, 2024, following impeachment by the National Assembly and was formally removed by the Constitutional Court in April 2025.1 He had been under arrest since July 2025, facing multiple criminal trials, with the rebellion charge carrying the most severe potential punishment.
Sentencing and Reactions
Although a special prosecutor had requested the death penalty, citing the threat Yoon’s actions posed to South Korea’s democracy, the court ultimately sentenced him to life imprisonment.3 South Korea has maintained a de facto moratorium on capital punishment since 1997, with no executions carried out amid growing calls for its abolition.
The sentencing was met with strong reactions from both supporters and critics. Hundreds of police officers were deployed as Yoon supporters rallied outside the judicial complex, while counter-protesters demanded the death penalty.2
Additional Convictions and Sentences
Several former military and police officials involved in enforcing Yoon’s martial law decree were also convicted. Former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun received a 30-year prison sentence for his central role in planning the measure and mobilizing the military.3
Prior to the life sentence, Yoon had been sentenced to five years in prison for resisting arrest, fabricating the martial law proclamation, and circumventing a legally mandated full Cabinet meeting before declaring the measure.1 Two of Yoon’s Cabinet members have also been convicted in separate cases, including former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who received a 23-year prison sentence for attempting to legitimize the decree through falsification and perjury. Han has appealed the verdict.
Yoon’s Defense
Yoon, a conservative politician, had defended his martial law decree as a necessary measure to counter what he described as “anti-state” forces attempting to obstruct his agenda with their legislative majority.1
Yoon is likely to appeal the life sentence.
Keep reading