South Korean ex-president apologizes to nationHELD RESPONSIBLE Charged and convicted for attempting to declare martial law in 2024, the ex-president dodged the death penalty, sentenced instead to life in prisonSEOUL, ReutersFormer South Korean president Yoon Suk-yeol apologized yesterday for his short-lived declaration of martial law in December 2024, a day after a Seoul court sentenced him to life in prison for masterminding an insurrection. A TV screen shows a file image of former South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. Yoon’s martial law declaration lasted around six hours before being voted down by the National Assembly, but it sent shockwaves through the country and sparked street protests. A special prosecutor had sought the death penalty for Yoon, though South Korea has not carried out an execution since 1997. A prosecutor said on Thursday the team had some “regret” over the sentencing, but declined to say whether they planned to appeal.

Source: Taipei Times February 20, 2026 16:00 UTC