Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol Sentenced to 12 Years for Insurrection
Published Date: 19th Feb, 2026
February 19, 2026
A Seoul Central District Court today sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to 12 years in prison after convicting him of insurrection, abuse of power, and related offenses stemming from his brief declaration of martial law on December 3, 2024. The court also imposed a 15-year political ban and ordered the forfeiture of approximately 2.8 billion won ($2 million) in assets.
The three-judge panel ruled that Yoon’s martial law decree constituted an “illegal and unconstitutional act of insurrection” aimed at suspending legislative functions and suppressing political opposition. Presiding Judge Kim Se-yun stated that the former president “gravely violated the constitutional order and democratic principles by mobilizing military forces against the National Assembly and attempting to arrest opposition lawmakers.”
Yoon, impeached by the National Assembly on December 14, 2024 and formally removed from office by the Constitutional Court on March 24, 2025, has been in custody since his arrest on January 15, 2025. He appeared in court today wearing a navy suit and maintained his innocence throughout the 14-month trial, arguing the martial law order was a “limited defensive measure” against alleged election fraud and North Korean threats.
Defense lawyers immediately announced plans to appeal to the Seoul High Court, calling the verdict “politically motivated” and arguing the court improperly expanded the legal definition of insurrection. Prosecutors had sought a 20-year prison term and lifetime political ban.
Political and Social Aftermath
The sentencing concludes one of the most dramatic political crises in South Korean modern history. Yoon’s six-hour martial law declaration triggered nationwide protests, a successful impeachment vote, and his eventual removal, paving the way for President Lee Jae-myung’s victory in the May 2025 snap election.
President Lee welcomed the verdict as “a reaffirmation of constitutional supremacy and democratic accountability.” Opposition People Power Party leaders condemned the sentence as “judicial revenge” and warned it could deepen national divisions ahead of local elections in June 2026.
Public opinion remains sharply split. A Gallup Korea poll released yesterday showed 58% of respondents supporting the guilty verdict while 37% viewed it as excessive or politically driven.
Yoon will remain in Seoul Detention Center pending appeal proceedings. If the high court upholds the conviction, he will begin serving the sentence immediately, becoming the second former South Korean president imprisoned after conviction (following Park Geun-hye in 2018 and Lee Myung-bak in 2018).
The case continues to dominate South Korean politics as the country prepares for local elections in June 2026 and the next presidential race in 2027. Legal experts expect the appeals process to last 18–24 months, keeping Yoon’s legal fate — and its political ramifications — at the center of national debate for years to come.
Date: 19th Feb, 2026
