속보: 전 대통령 윤석열, 내란 혐의로 종신형 선고…한국 정치 격변 (Breaking: Former President Yoon Suk Yeol sentenced to life for insurrection—South Korean politics in turmoil)

SEOUL—Former South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has been sentenced to life in prison after the Seoul Central District Court found him guilty of leading an armed insurrection during his short-lived declaration of martial law in December 2024. The three-judge panel ruled that Yoon’s attempt to deploy troops to the streets and suspend parliament “constituted a direct assault on the Constitution,” rejecting defense claims that the move was a temporary measure to quell nationwide protests. Prosecutors had sought the death penalty, but the court cited “the need for national reconciliation” in imposing life imprisonment instead. Key points • Timeline of events: – Dec 2024: Yoon declares nationwide martial law amid escalating anti-government rallies. – Jan 2025: National Assembly impeaches Yoon; the Constitutional Court upholds the impeachment. – Jul 2025: Special counsel indicts the former leader on insurrection and abuse-of-power charges. – 19 Feb 2026: Court delivers life sentence, stripping Yoon of political rights for life. • Court remarks: Presiding Judge Kim Hye-jin said the conspiracy “risked plunging South Korea back into its authoritarian past,” adding that Yoon’s refusal to cooperate with investigators showed “no sign of remorse.” • Reaction: Outside the courthouse, rival crowds of pro-Yoon supporters and democracy activists chanted slogans under tight police security. Civic groups hailed the verdict as a “victory for constitutional order,” while Yoon’s conservative Liberty Korea Party called it “judicial vengeance.” Political fallout The ruling deepens divisions ahead of April’s legislative elections. Liberal leaders argue that the sentence underscores the need to reform security laws that enabled the attempted power grab, whereas conservatives warn of “politicized justice.” Analysts say the opposition Democratic Alliance could gain momentum if public outrage persists, but caution that economic issues may ultimately dominate the campaign. Regional and market impact South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI index slipped 0.7 % in morning trading amid investor uncertainty over possible cabinet reshuffles and defense-sector probes linked to the 2024 crisis. Neighboring Japan and the United States issued statements supporting “Korea’s democratic institutions,” signaling no immediate change to security cooperation. What’s next Yoon’s legal team confirmed plans to appeal to the Supreme Court, a process that could take up to a year. If the verdict is upheld, historians note, Yoon would join Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo as former South Korean leaders imprisoned for insurrection, although both were later pardoned. President Lee Jae-myung has not commented on the possibility of clemency, telling reporters only that “the rule of law has spoken.” As South Korea confronts its gravest constitutional crisis since 1987, the life sentence for Yoon Suk-yeol sends an unmistakable signal: any attempt to override democratic norms will carry the highest political and personal cost.