Yoon Suk Yeol sentenced to life for leading insurrection

Reports the first-instance verdict of the Seoul Central District Court on 19 February 2026, presided over by judge Ji Gwi-yeon, sentencing former president Yoon Suk Yeol to life imprisonment for leading an insurrection, the court finding that he acted with the purpose of subverting the constitution. The ruling records that he sought to involve the military in matters relating to the National Election Commission, cited as showing collusion with the defence minister, and rejects his justification of the decree, holding that the argument 'confuses motive with purpose' and that 'a desire to address a perceived national crisis may explain intent, but does not justify unconstitutional means'. Co-defendants sentenced included Kim Yong-hyun (30 years), Noh Sang-won (18 years), Cho Ji-ho (12 years) and Kim Bong-shik (10 years); two officials of the National Investigation Office were acquitted.