World News for Students of English

24-02-2026 07:00

South Korea’s former president, Yoon Suk Yeol, has received a life sentence after a court found him guilty of insurrection.

Judges said he led an illegal action when he declared martial law in December 2024. They said he sent soldiers to the National Assembly in an attempt to block its work and take control of the country’s political system.

The court also punished other officials, including the former defence minister and the former police chief. Prosecutors had asked for the death penalty, but the judge decided that life in prison was a strong enough sentence. Yoon has said he is innocent and plans to appeal the decision.

The case caused big political changes across the country. Large protests took place both for and against Yoon. This trial is important because it shows how the law deals with a leader accused of abuse of power.

Difficult words: life sentence (a punishment where a person stays in prison for the rest of their life), insurrection (a violent action to fight against the government and try to take power), martial law (a time when the army controls a country instead of normal government leaders), death penalty (a legal punishment where the state kills a person for a very serious crime).

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