South Korea’s ex-president avoids death penalty but is jailed for life for botched attempt to bring in martial law in 2024
South Korea’s former president has been spared the death penalty after being found guilty of plotting an uprising during his failed attempt to place the country under martial law.
Yoon Suk Yeol was sentenced to life in prison on Thursday after a Seoul court found him guilty of mobilizing military and police forces in an illegal attempt to seize the liberal-led National Assembly in December 2025, arrest politicians and establish uncontrolled power.
A special prosecutor had sought the death penalty for Yoon, saying his actions posed a threat to the country’s democracy and deserved the most severe punishment available, but most analysts expected a life sentence.
Yoon is likely to appeal the decision.
The former president, a staunch conservative, defended the December 3, 2024 martial law decree as a necessary executive action against liberals, whom he described as ‘anti-state’ forces obstructing his agenda with a legislative majority.
The decree lasted nearly six hours before being lifted after enough MPs managed to breach the blockade imposed by hundreds of heavily armed troops and police and voted unanimously to repeal the measure.
Following his impeachment, Yoon was suspended from office on December 14, 2024, and was formally dismissed by the Constitutional Court in April 2025.
The court also convicted and sentenced several former military and police officials who played a role in enforcing Yoon’s martial law decree; these included former Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun, who was sentenced to 30 years in prison for his central role in planning the measure and mobilizing the army.
Former President of South Korea Yoon Suk Yeol was found guilty of leading the uprising in December 2024.
A bus carrying former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol arrives at the Seoul Central District Court for criminal proceedings in the riot case stemming from the brief declaration of martial law in December 2024, February 19, 2026, Seoul, South Korea
A protester holds a banner with the photo of South Korea’s deposed former president Yoon Suk Yeol and the words ‘Death penalty’ during a rally against Yoon near the Seoul Central District Court in Seoul on February 19, 2026.
He has been detained since last July while facing multiple criminal charges, with the sedition charge carrying the most severe penalty.
Last month, Yoon was sentenced to five years in prison for resisting arrest, fabricating a declaration of martial law and avoiding a legally mandated full Cabinet meeting before announcing a measure.
The Seoul Central Court also convicted two of Yoon’s Cabinet members in other cases.
This includes Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who was sentenced to 23 years in prison for trying to legitimize the decree by forcing a Cabinet Council meeting, falsifying records, and taking oaths. Khan appealed the decision.
When Yoon arrived at court, hundreds of police officers closely watched as Yoon supporters marched in front of the judicial complex; His screams rose as the prison bus carrying him passed. Yoon’s critics gathered nearby and demanded the death penalty.
This is a breaking story, more to come.
