South Korea’s Yoon Sentenced to Life in Prison Following Failed Martial Law Bid
Seoul, Thursday, 19 February 2026.
In a historic ruling, former President Yoon Suk Yeol received a life sentence for insurrection, just 444 days after his failed attempt to impose martial law on South Korea.
Judicial Reasoning and Verdict
On February 19, 2026, the Seoul Central District Court, presided over by Judge Jee Kui-youn, convicted Yoon Suk Yeol of leading an insurrection, citing his mobilization of military and police forces to seize the National Assembly and arrest politicians [2][4]. The court determined that these actions constituted a “grave destruction of constitutional order” intended to establish unchecked power [1][2]. While the Special Prosecutor sought the death penalty, the court opted for life imprisonment, acknowledging that while the event caused “massive social damage” and Yoon refused to apologize, the insurrection did not appear to be meticulously planned and physical force was restrained [1][3]. This verdict was delivered exactly 444 days after the initial declaration of martial law [3].
Dismantling the Inner Circle
The ruling simultaneously addressed the culpability of Yoon’s key aides who facilitated the martial law decree. Former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun was sentenced to 30 years in prison for his role in orchestrating the military response [2][3]. This follows the sentencing of former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo in January 2026, who received a 23-year term for attempting to legitimize the decree [1][2]. The court also handed down significant prison terms to security officials, including 18 years for former Defense Intelligence Commander Noh Sang-won and 12 years for former Police Commissioner Cho Ji-ho [4]. Conversely, two officials, including the former commander of the 3rd Army Military Police, were acquitted [4].
Timeline of a Constitutional Crisis
This judgment marks the legal culmination of a crisis that began on December 3, 2024, when Yoon attempted to use military force to paralyze the legislature—a move reversed by lawmakers within hours [1][2]. Following his impeachment by Parliament on December 14, 2024, Yoon was suspended from power and formally removed from office by the Constitutional Court in April 2025 [1][2]. Authorities arrested him in July 2025, and he has since faced multiple criminal trials, including a separate conviction in January 2026 that resulted in a five-year sentence for resisting arrest and fabricating the martial law proclamation [2].
Political Aftermath and Appeals
The conclusion of the trial has elicited sharp divisions regarding the severity of the punishment. Special Prosecutor Jo Eun-seok expressed disappointment with the life sentence, maintaining that the charge of “insurrection leadership” warranted the death penalty [3][4]. On the opposing side, Yoon’s defense team, which had argued that there was no intent to disrupt constitutional order and labeled the proceedings a “political conspiracy,” expressed skepticism about filing an appeal, citing a perceived “collapse of the rule of law” [1][5]. The ruling solidifies the judicial response to what the courts have described as a “self-coup” by elected power [1].