A South Korean court was due on Thursday (19 February) to deliver its\nverdict against former President Yoon Suk Yeol on insurrection charges\nrelated to his imposition of martial law. The court was considering\nwhether Yoon should receive the death penalty for his failed attempt to\nimpose military rule.<\/p>\n
Yoon abruptly declared martial law in a televised address in December\n2024, stating that the drastic measure was necessary to eradicate what\nhe described as \u201canti-state forces\u201d.<\/p>\n
The 65-year-old hardline conservative was subsequently impeached,\narrested, and charged with a series of criminal offences ranging from\ninsurrection to obstruction of justice.<\/p>\n
South Korean prosecutors sought the maximum penalty for the\ninsurrection charge, urging the Seoul Central District Court to impose\nthe death sentence on Yoon during trial proceedings held in January.<\/p>\n
However, South Korea maintains an unofficial moratorium on the death\npenalty \u2014 the last execution was carried out in 1997. A death sentence\nwould effectively mean Yoon would spend the remainder of his life in\nprison.<\/p>\n
This was reported by AFP on Thursday (19 February 2026).<\/p>\n
The sentencing hearing for Yoon was scheduled for Thursday (19\nFebruary) at approximately 3:00 pm local time. Millions of South Korean\ncitizens were expected to follow proceedings as the court delivered its\nruling in a trial broadcast live by local television stations.<\/p>\n
Yoon has been held in solitary confinement whilst facing the various\ntrials against him. He has steadfastly denied any wrongdoing, arguing\nthat his actions were intended to \u201csafeguard freedom\u201d and restore\nconstitutional order against what he termed a \u201clegislative dictatorship\u201d\ncontrolled by the opposition.<\/p>\n
South Korean prosecutors accused Yoon of leading an \u201cinsurrection\u201d\ndriven by a \u201clust for power aimed at dictatorship and prolonged\nrule\u201d.<\/p>\n
Under South Korean law, only two sentences are applicable for the\ncharge of insurrection: life imprisonment or death.<\/p>\n
South Korean legal commentator Yoo Jung Hoon, a practising lawyer,\npredicted that the court would likely hand down a life sentence.<\/p>\n
\u201cYoon has not pleaded guilty nor expressed remorse, so it would be\ndifficult for the bench to give him a lighter sentence than life\nimprisonment,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Yoon has already received a five-year prison sentence on lesser\ncharges. Meanwhile, his wife Kim Keon Hee was sentenced to 20 months\u2019\nimprisonment in early January on bribery charges unrelated to the\nmartial law episode.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/former-south-korean-president-sentenced-today-death-penalty-under-consideration-1771605032", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }