South Korea's ex-president jailed for life over martial law attempt

BBC News - WorldEN 3 min read 100% complete February 19, 2026 at 10:46 AM

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Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was sentenced to life in prison by a Seoul court for attempting to impose martial law on December 3, 2024. The court ruled Yoon attempted to subvert the constitution by deploying troops and ordering the arrest of politicians. Yoon claimed his actions were to protect the country from pro-North Korean forces, but he was also facing domestic political troubles. The verdict followed months of political chaos, Yoon's impeachment, and indictments against him and other officials. Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and ex-Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun have also received lengthy prison sentences for their roles. The sentencing sparked protests from both supporters and opponents, and an appeal to the Supreme Court is possible.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Lee Sang-min 40% Cho Ji-ho 40% Roh Sang-won 40% North Korea 50% Kim Keon Hee 50% Han Duck-soo 50% Kim Yong-hyun 50% Supreme Court 60% Ji Gwi-yeon 60% National Assembly 70% South Korea ×290% Yoon Suk Yeol ×795%

Keywords

martial law 100% south korea 90% yoon suk yeol 90% jail sentence 80% political chaos 70% insurrection 70% democracy 60% impeachment 50% court ruling 50% corruption allegations 40%

Sentiment Analysis

Negative

Score: -0.40

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Source

BBC News - World

Classification Confidence

90%

Geographic Perspective

South Korea

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis.

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martial law south korea yoon suk yeol jail sentence political chaos insurrection democracy impeachment court ruling corruption allegations

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