Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol arrived at the Seoul Central District Court on Thursday, 19 February 2026, to receive a verdict on serious rebellion charges. The charges stem from his short-lived attempt to impose martial law in December 2024, an action that triggered the country's most severe political crisis in decades.
Charges and Potential Sentences
The rebellion charge is the most severe allegation against the ousted leader, following his declaration of martial law and deployment of troops to surround the legislature on 3 December 2024. A special prosecutor has demanded the death penalty, arguing that Yoon's actions posed a direct threat to South Korea's democracy and warranted the harshest possible punishment.
Most analysts, however, predict a life sentence, noting that his poorly-planned power grab did not result in any casualties. South Korea has maintained a de facto moratorium on capital punishment since 1997, with no executions carried out amid ongoing calls for abolition.
Court Proceedings and Related Cases
Seoul Central District Court Judge Jee Kui-youn was expected to deliver the verdict and sentence on Thursday. The court will also rule on the cases of seven former military and police officials accused of enforcing Yoon's martial law decree, including ex-Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun.
Yoon, a staunch conservative, has defended his martial law decree as necessary to stop liberal forces, whom he labelled "anti-state," from obstructing his agenda with their legislative majority. The decree lasted approximately six hours before being lifted after lawmakers broke through a military blockade and unanimously voted to revoke it.
Political Fallout and Previous Convictions
Yoon was suspended from office on 14 December 2024 after impeachment by lawmakers and was formally removed by the Constitutional Court in April 2025. He has been under arrest since July 2025 while facing multiple criminal trials, with the rebellion charge carrying the most severe potential punishment.
Last month, Yoon was sentenced to five years in prison for resisting arrest, fabricating the martial law proclamation, and sidestepping a legally mandated full Cabinet meeting before declaring the measure. The Seoul Central Court also convicted two of Yoon's Cabinet members, including Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who received a 23-year prison sentence for attempting to legitimize the decree by forcing it through a Cabinet Council meeting, falsifying records, and lying under oath. Han has appealed the verdict.
Public Reaction and Security Measures
As Yoon arrived in court, hundreds of police officers monitored the scene closely. Supporters of the former president rallied outside the judicial complex, with their cries intensifying as the prison bus transporting him drove past. Meanwhile, critics gathered nearby, demanding the death penalty, highlighting the deep political divisions surrounding the case.
