TBM Report
In a landmark verdict, former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been sentenced to life imprisonment for his short-lived attempt to impose martial law in December 2024. Judge Jee Kui-youn of the Seoul Central District Court delivered the ruling on Thursday (February 19, 2026), declaring Yoon guilty of “insurrection.” The court found that Yoon had illegally mobilized military and police forces to occupy the liberal-controlled National Assembly, attempting to detain political rivals and establish unrestricted power.
While prosecutors had sought the death penalty, the court opted for life imprisonment, noting that no loss of life occurred during the 6-hour power grab attempt. South Korea has not carried out an execution since 1997, maintaining a de facto moratorium on the death penalty. Yoon is expected to appeal the decision, though analysts suggest the gravity of the “threat to democracy” makes a significant reduction in sentence unlikely.
The fallout of the trial also reached Yoon’s key cabinet members. Former Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun was sentenced to 30 years in prison for his pivotal role in troop deployment. Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo received a 23-year sentence for falsifying documents and violating his oath of office to legalize the martial law ordinance. Outside the courtroom, the atmosphere remained electric as crowds of critics cheered the sentence, while a small group of supporters held vigils for the ousted leader.
Yoon’s downfall began shortly after the December 14, 2024, incident when lawmakers defied military orders to vote down the martial law. He was subsequently impeached and formally removed from office by the Constitutional Court in April 2025. This verdict marks a definitive close to a turbulent chapter in South Korean politics, reaffirming the nation’s commitment to democratic resilience and the accountability of its highest office.
