A Seoul court has scheduled February 19, 2026, as the verdict date in the unprecedented insurrection trial of former South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, marking a critical juncture in the nation’s political and judicial history. The Seoul Central District Court’s announcement comes after prosecutors made the extraordinary request for capital punishment against the former head of state.
The case centers on Yoon’s controversial declaration of emergency martial law on December 3, 2024, despite the absence of war or equivalent national crises. The National Assembly swiftly revoked the declaration within hours, setting in motion a constitutional crisis that ultimately led to Yoon’s impeachment by the Constitutional Court in April 2025 and his subsequent removal from office.
Prosecutors allege Yoon masterminded an insurrection plot, coordinating with seven senior military and police officials who face related charges. The court consolidated three separate trials last month, creating a unified proceeding against all eight defendants. Yoon, who was indicted while in detention in January 2025, holds the distinction of being the first sitting South Korean president to be arrested and formally charged.
The upcoming verdict represents a watershed moment for South Korea’s democratic institutions, testing the judiciary’s independence and the principle that all citizens, regardless of position, are subject to the rule of law. The case has drawn intense domestic and international attention, with implications for the nation’s political stability and constitutional order.