Judiciary Sentences Former President Yoon to Life Imprisonment.

In a historic ruling on February 19, 2026, the Seoul Central District Court sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to life in prison. The court found him guilty of leading an insurrection following his brief and controversial declaration of martial law in December 2024. While prosecutors had initially sought the death penalty, the court opted for life imprisonment, noting that while the attempt was a grave destruction of constitutional order, the execution of the plan was ultimately unsuccessful and caused no casualties. The ruling also saw significant prison terms for several co-defendants, including a 30-year sentence for the former Defense Minister and 23 years for the former Prime Minister. The decision has been hailed by international human rights organizations as a landmark moment for South Korean democracy, signaling that the rule of law applies to all citizens, including the highest-ranking officials.

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