February 19, 2026

South Korea's former President Yoon Suk-yeol was sentenced to life in prison on charges of insurrection stemming from his declaration of emergency martial law, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Thursday.

A Chinese expert noted that the ruling represents the harshest realistically enforceable penalty in South Korea's judicial system since the country has de facto ended the use of the death penalty since 1997.

The Chosun Daily on Thursday quoted the presiding Judge Jee Kui-youn as stating that sending troops to the National Assembly after declaring emergency martial law was “the core of this case,” adding that “the intent to disrupt the constitutional order is recognized.”

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https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202602/1355511.shtml