South Korean court to deliver verdict in ex-president Yoon's insurrection trial on Feb 19

SEOUL -- A South Korean court will deliver a verdict in former President Yoon Suk-yeol's insurrection trial on Feb 19, local media reported Wednesday.

The ruling follows the sentencing request by South Korea's special counsel on Tuesday, which sought the death penalty for Yoon on charges of ringleading an insurrection by declaring unconstitutional and illegal emergency martial law in the absence of war or equivalent national emergencies.

The Seoul Central District Court merged three trials last month for eight suspects, including Yoon and seven senior military and police officials charged with performing critical duties in the insurrection.

The emergency martial law was declared by Yoon on the night of Dec 3, 2024, but it was revoked hours later by the National Assembly.

The constitutional court upheld a motion to impeach Yoon in April 2025, officially removing him from office. In Jan 2025, the ousted leader was indicted under detention as a suspected ringleader of the insurrection, becoming the first sitting president to be arrested and indicted.