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Former South Korean President Yoon receives life sentence for imposing martial law
- On February 19, 2026, the Seoul Central District Court sentenced former president Yoon Suk Yeol to life imprisonment after finding him guilty of abuse of authority and masterminding an insurrection.
- On December 3, 2024, Yoon declared martial law late at night and ordered troops to surround the legislature, which was lifted after about six hours by lawmakers who voted to lift it.
- Judges concluded `The court finds that the intention was to paralyse the assembly for a considerable period`, citing acts of insurrection by dispatching armed soldiers and helicopters to the National Assembly.
- Yoon is likely to appeal and is expected to remain detained at the Seoul Detention Centre while appeals proceed, despite prosecutors and a special prosecutor seeking the death penalty.
- The ruling also convicted senior officials including Kim Yong-hyun, former Defence Minister, sentenced to 30 years, and Han Duck-soo, former Prime Minister, jailed for 23 years; the verdict closes a chapter that tested South Korea's democratic institutions and deepened national polarisation.
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources200
Leaning Left51Leaning Right30Center36Last UpdatedBias Distribution43% Left
Bias Distribution
- 43% of the sources lean Left
43% Left
L 43%
C 31%
R 26%
Factuality
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