A supporter of former South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol outside the Seoul Central District Court on Thursday. Photograph: Jeon Heon-Kyun/EPAA South Korean court sentenced former president Yoon Suk Yeol to life in prison on ‌Thursday, after finding him guilty of masterminding an insurrection linked to his December 2024 attempt to impose martial law. Masterminding an insurrection carries a maximum sentence of the death penalty ​or life imprisonment under South Korean law. The conservative ⁠former career prosecutor said he had presidential authority to declare martial law and his ⁠action was aimed at sounding the alarm ​over opposition parties’ obstruction of government. Ko Jeong-suk (65), who watched the ⁠court decision at Seoul Station, said the martial law bid deepened social divisions.

Source: The Irish Times February 20, 2026 07:46 UTC