(2nd LD) Rival rallies erupt in anger, cheers after court sentences ex-President Yoon to life in insurrection trial

▲ Jeon Han-gil, a former Korean history instructor and a vocal supporter of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, speaks at a rally in support of the former president near the Seoul Central District Court in southern Seoul on Feb. 19, 2026, on the day of Yoon's sentencing hearing on charges of leading an insurrection. (Yonhap)

▲ Participants of a rally calling for former President Yoon Suk Yeol's conviction chant slogans near the Seoul Central District Court in southern Seoul on Feb. 19, 2026. (Yonhap)

(2nd LD) ex-president trial-rallies

(2nd LD) Rival rallies erupt in anger, cheers after court sentences ex-President Yoon to life in insurrection trial

(ATTN: UPDATES throughout, photos; CHANGES headline, lead)

By Chae Yun-hwan

SEOUL, Feb. 19 (Yonhap) -- Rival rallies erupted in anger and cheers Thursday after a court sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to life in prison over his bid to impose martial law in 2024.

Throngs of Yoon's supporters had gathered near the Seoul Central District Court to call for his acquittal in his trial over charges of leading an insurrection through his brief imposition of martial law on Dec. 3, 2024.

As the court announced the guilty verdict on live television and sentenced him to life imprisonment, cries of anger and disappointment could be heard at the rally attended by some 1,000 people.

Former Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, a conservative who attended the rally, chanted, "overthrow the dictatorship," when the live broadcast ended, while Jeon Han-gil, a former Korean history instructor who has become one of Yoon's most vocal supporters, said he could not accept what he called a "political trial."

Just 500 meters away from the rally by Yoon's supporters, the left-leaning Candlelight Action civic group held a rally calling for the ousted president's conviction, with participants cheering as the court announced its verdict.

Some participants still voiced disappointment over the ruling that fell short of the death penalty, which had been demanded by special prosecutors.

Rep. Seo Young-kyo of the ruling Democratic Party expressed dissatisfaction with the ruling, saying hundreds of thousands of bullets had been aimed at citizens and lawmakers during the martial law bid.

Despite concerns of clashes between rally participants, the gatherings ended without any major incidents.

Some participants of the rival rallies exchanged barbs, but it did not spill over to physical clashes as police responded to the scene.

Police bolstered security around the area in an effort to prevent possible violence following a riot by Yoon's supporters at the Seoul Western District Court in January last year when it issued a warrant to extend his detention.

Police mobilized some 1,000 personnel for security operations and lined up police buses around the court complex to form barriers and restrict access.

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