{"id":2571283,"date":"2026-02-19T04:29:01","date_gmt":"2026-02-19T09:29:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/former-south-korean-president-yoon-sentenced-to-life-in-prison-for-declaring-martial-law\/"},"modified":"2026-02-19T04:32:35","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T09:32:35","slug":"former-south-korean-president-yoon-sentenced-to-life-in-prison-for-declaring-martial-law","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/former-south-korean-president-yoon-sentenced-to-life-in-prison-for-declaring-martial-law\/","title":{"rendered":"Former South Korean President Yoon sentenced to life in prison for declaring martial law"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fformer-south-korean-president-yoon-sentenced-to-life-in-prison-for-declaring-martial-law%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2571283&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been sentenced to life in prison for leading an insurrection associated with his declaration of martial law in December 2024. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/army-leaders-join-gen-milley-and-release-statement-saying-there-is-no-role-for-us-army-in-martial-law-in-determining-elections\/\" title=\"Army Leaders Join Gen. Milley and Release Statement Saying There Is \u201cNo Role\u201d for US Army in ... in Determining Elections\">martial law order<\/a> lasted less than half a day before the National Assembly reversed it in a 190-0 vote. Yoon was impeached and removed from office, with the Constitutional Court officially confirming the decision on April 4, 2025. On February 19, 2026, Seoul Central District Court Judge Ji Gwi-yeon found Yoon guilty of insurrection, accusing him of mobilizing military and police to seize the National Assembly, arrest politicians, and consolidate power for a considerable period, actions described as a riot that destabilized the country.<\/p>\n<p>Prosecutors had asked for the death penalty,but Judge Ji indicated that while Yoon deserved a severe penalty for the upheaval,he did not impose the death penalty because there was no use of lethal force and yoon was 65 years old. Yoon denies the charges and plans to appeal within a week under South Korean law. This is his second conviction: in January he was sentenced to five years in prison for related martial-law charges.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Former South Korean President Yoon sentenced to life in prison for declaring martial law<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>Former <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/south-korea\/\">South Korean<\/a> President Yoon Suk Yeol was sentenced to life in prison on Thursday for declaring martial law in his country on Dec. 3, 2024. His decree lasted less than half a day before legislators in South Korea&rsquo;s National Assembly were able to reverse the order in a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/news4sanantonio.com\/news\/nation-world\/south-korean-president-lifts-martial-law-decree-after-unanimous-parliament-vote-local-news-near-me-law-international\">190-0 vote<\/a>. He was impeached and removed from office, a decision the South Korean Constitutional Court made official on April 4, 2025. On Thursday, Judge Ji Gwi-yeon of Seoul Central District Court <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/live\/2026\/02\/19\/world\/yoon-korea-martial-law-president\">found<\/a> Yoon guilty of leading an insurrection.<\/p>\n<p>Yoon&rsquo;s crimes included leading a &ldquo;rebellion for mobilizing military and police forces in an illegal attempt to seize the liberal-led National Assembly, arrest politicians, and establish unchecked power for a &lsquo;considerable&rsquo; time,&rdquo; according to multiple <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ksat.com\/news\/world\/2026\/02\/19\/former-south-korean-president-yoon-convicted-on-rebellion-charges\/\">sources<\/a>. Judge Ji said Yoon&rsquo;s actions were the equivalent of a &ldquo;riot&rdquo; and brought instability to the country, the <em>New York Times<\/em> <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/live\/2026\/02\/19\/world\/yoon-korea-martial-law-president\">reported<\/a>. <\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4463173\/macron-criticizes-free-speech-blasting-tech-company-executives\/\">Macron calls free speech &lsquo;pure bulls***&rsquo; while blasting tech company executives<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/travel\/4460797\/dhs-shutdown-tsa-airport-delays\/\">Travel industry warns of <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >rising airport strain amid partial shutdown&#038;nbsp<\/a>;&nbsp;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4461445\/mark-zuckerberg-grilled-meta-targeting-teenagers-social-media-addiction-trial\/\">Zuckerberg grilled on Meta&#8217;s targeting of teenagers in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/social-media-companies-face-first-trial-over-addiction-to-their-platforms\/\" title=\"Social media companies face first trial over addiction to their platforms\">social media addiction trial<\/a><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>It was the second conviction and sentencing for the former South Korean president. Previously, prosecutors alleged that the martial law order <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/world\/south-korean-court-rules-ex-president-yoon-suk-yeol-guilty-insurrection-trial\">was<\/a> an &ldquo;unconstitutional and illegal emergency martial law undermined the function of the National Assembly and the Election Commission &hellip; actually destroying the liberal democratic constitutional order.&rdquo; In January, he was sentenced to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4421362\/south-korea-former-president-sentenced-for-martial-law-order\/\">five years in prison<\/a> for charges related to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/south-korean-president-yoon-likely-to-join-bizarre-trend\/\" title=\"... ... likely to join bizarre trend\">martial law decree<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"tpd-featured-video featured-post-video in-content bridtv\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2509182\" class=\"brid\" style=\"width:1280;height:720;\"> <\/div>\n<div class=\"tpd-featured-video-placeholder\" style=\"position:relative;overflow:hidden;width:100%;padding-top:56.25%;background-color:#000;\">\n<div style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;width:100%;height:100%\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Yoon denied the charges against him and claimed he had the authority to declare martial law based on his <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/world\/south-korean-court-rules-ex-president-yoon-suk-yeol-guilty-insurrection-trial\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">assessment<\/a> of an imminent threat to the country stemming from his political opposition&rsquo;s efforts to obstruct the government. He is expected to appeal the conviction and has a week to do so under South Korean law.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/entertainment\/4460516\/fcc-equal-time-rule-colbert-talarico-interview\/\"><strong>WHAT IS THE FCC EQUAL TIME RULE AT CENTER OF COLBERT-TALARICO INTERVIEW CONTROVERSY?<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Prosecutors in the case recommended the death penalty as punishment for Yoon, given the severity of his crimes. Judge Ji believed Yoon deserved a severe penalty for his martial law decree. He said Yoon caused &ldquo;incalculable damage&rdquo; across the country, sparking political division and discontent, according to the <em>New York Times.<\/em> Ji also <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/live\/2026\/02\/19\/world\/yoon-korea-martial-law-president\">claimed<\/a> that Yoon &ldquo;flouted legal procedures and resorted to violent means to try to incapacitate the National Assembly and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pelosi-mocks-trumps-finances-person-without-dollars-and-values\/\" title=\"Pelosi taunts Trump: &#039;No money&#039; and &#039;morals\">undermine democratic norms<\/a>.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>However, he stopped short of giving him the death penalty for several reasons, including the fact that Yoon did not use &ldquo;lethal force&rdquo; during his imposition of martial law and the fact that the former South Korean president was 65 years old, according to the <em>New York Times.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been sentenced to life in prison for declaring martial law in December 2024. The order lasted under half a day before the National Assembly voted 190-0 to overturn it. He was impeached and removed from office, a ruling later upheld by the Constitutional Court in April 2025. A Seoul judge, Ji Gwi-yeon, found him guilty of leading an insurrection, accusing him of mobilizing the military and police to seize the National Assembly, detain politicians, and consolidate power for a long period, describing the act as a riot that destabilized the country.<\/p>\n<p>This is his second conviction; prosecutors argued the martial law order was unconstitutional and illegal, undermining democratic institutions. In January he had already received a five-year sentence for related charges and now faces a life term for the broader offenses. Yoon denied the charges, saying he acted within his authority to counter threats from political opponents, and he plans to appeal within a week as permitted by law.<\/p>\n<p>Prosecutors had urged the death penalty given the severity, but Judge Ji rejected that option, noting no lethal force was used and that Yoon, at 65, deserved a severe punishment for causing \u201cincalculable damage\u201d and widespread political division<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2677,"featured_media":2571284,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Yoon-Suk-Yeol.webp?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[74081,5894,74082,73003,74080],"class_list":["post-2571283","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-martial-law-2","tag-politics","tag-prison-sentence-2","tag-south-korea-2","tag-yoon-suk-yeol-3"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Yoon-Suk-Yeol.webp?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2571283","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2677"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2571283"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2571283\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2571287,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2571283\/revisions\/2571287"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2571284"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2571283"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2571283"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2571283"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}