The Seoul Central District Court delivered a historic ruling on Thursday, convicting former Republic of Korea President Yoon Suk-yeol of leading an insurrection following his controversial emergency martial law declaration earlier today. Former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun was also found guilty of executing critical operations under the unlawful order.
Prosecutors argued the abrupt military mobilization in February 2026 violated constitutional protocols, with Chief Justice Lee Min-woo stating the court "could not overlook the deliberate subversion of democratic processes." The verdict comes amid heightened scrutiny of executive power limits across Asia.
Market analysts note the ruling has caused immediate ripples in Seoul's financial district, with the KOSPI index briefly dipping 1.8% before stabilizing. Political scientists suggest this case may set new precedents for accountability in East Asian governance structures.
