South Korea’s president goes to prison – level 2

South Korea s president goes to prison

24-02-2026 07:00

A court in South Korea gave former president Yoon Suk Yeol a life sentence, which means that he will spend the rest of his life in prison.

The court says he led an insurrection in 2024. Judges say he sent soldiers to the National Assembly to stop its work. They believe he tried to take control of the country.

The court also gave prison sentences to other top officials, including the former defence minister. Yoon says he did nothing wrong and plans to appeal.

Many people protest outside the court. Some support him, but others celebrate the decision. The case brings political changes and a strong public reaction.

Difficult words: insurrection (a fight against the government), defence minister (the government leader who controls the army), appeal (to ask a higher court to change a legal decision).

You can watch the original video in the Level 3 section.

Which action did judges cite as evidence that Yoon Suk Yeol led an insurrection in 2024?

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