SEOUL — The Seoul Central District Courtroom sentenced former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to life in jail Thursday.
The courtroom discovered him responsible of main an revolt linked to his declaration of martial regulation on Dec. 3, 2024.
The courtroom dominated that Yoon’s central offense was mobilizing army and police forces to grab management of the Nationwide Meeting and detain key political figures.
“The deployment of martial regulation troops to the Nationwide Meeting in the course of the state of emergency constitutes ‘rioting,’ a key authorized component required to determine the crime of revolt,” presiding decide Ji Gui-yeon stated Thursday. Ji stated declaring martial regulation can represent revolt if supposed to impede or paralyze constitutional establishments.
The courtroom acknowledged political tensions between Yoon’s administration and the opposition-controlled legislature. Nevertheless, it stated these circumstances didn’t justify declaring martial regulation underneath the structure.
Judges additionally stated Yoon confirmed no regret or acknowledgment of wrongdoing in the course of the proceedings, which they thought of in figuring out his sentence.
Yoon’s attorneys criticized the ruling as “a mere formality for a predetermined conclusion.”
Supporters of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol stage a rally exterior of Seoul Central District Courtroom in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. An indication reads “Not Responsible.”
Ahn Younger-joon/AP
“Watching the rule of regulation collapse in actuality, I query whether or not I ought to even pursue an enchantment or proceed taking part in these legal proceedings,” Yoon’s legal professional, Yoon Gab-geun, advised reporters after the ruling. “The reality shall be revealed within the courtroom of historical past.”
Yoon was taken into custody instantly after the ruling and transferred to the Seoul Detention Middle. He’ll stay there except the courtroom grants launch pending enchantment.
If Yoon appeals, the case will transfer to the Seoul Excessive Courtroom, which may assessment authorized interpretations and factual findings. A last enchantment could possibly be filed with the Supreme Courtroom.
Prosecutors had sought the loss of life penalty, arguing Yoon’s actions posed a grave risk to the constitutional order.
Thursday’s ruling addressed solely the revolt cost. Different legal instances tied to the December 2024 martial regulation declaration, together with abuse of energy and obstruction of official obligation, stay pending.
In a separate case final month, Yoon was sentenced to 5 years in jail for obstructing his arrest, the primary legal conviction tied to the disaster.
“Yoon’s sentencing doesn’t symbolize a nationwide catharsis since most Koreans have already emotionally moved on from the previous president,” Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha College in Seoul, advised ABC Information. “Nor does this televised verdict mark closure as a result of many instances and appeals associated to Yoon’s martial regulation debacle have but to be totally adjudicated.”
