Jake Kwon
Seoul correspondent

Thousands of Yoon’s supporters let out exasperated sighs as the judge read out the verdict.

Watching the TV broadcast of the sentencing, they yelled out in dismay: “Korea is in shambles!”

The ex-president himself appeared straight faced when received his sentence and did not display much emotion.

The judge said Yoon had damaged South Korea’s democracy fundamentally and deserved a harsh punishment.

Yoon had earlier argued that his martial law attempt was only a benign gesture to bring attention to the opposition party’s wrongdoings. But the judge was not convinced.

Yoon is likely to appeal and this case could travel all the way up to the Supreme Court.

But as one can see from his supporters gathered outside the courthouse, Yoon leaves a country deeply divided.

Image source, Getty Images

We're also getting sentences for others who have been charged along with Yoon:

• Kim Yong-hyun, the ex-defence minister in Yoon's administration, has been sentenced to 30 years in prison.
• Roh Sang-won, former intelligence commander, sentenced to 18 years in prison
• Cho Ji-ho, ex-police chief, sentenced to 12 years
• Kim Bong-sik, former Seoul Metropolitan police chief, sentenced to 10 years
• Mok Hyun-tae, former head of the National Assembly police guards, sentenced to 3 years

The defendants may appeal within a week, the court says.

Yoon Suk Yeol has been handed a life sentence in his insurrection case.

Yoon Suk Yeol is also guilty of abuse of authority, the judge in the former president's insurrection case has told the court.

Kim Yong-hyun, who was defence minister in Yoon's administration has also been found guilty of insurrection.

The pair's cases are being ruled on in the same insurrection trial.

The court has said that Yoon is guilty of leading an insurrection.

Yoon Suk Yeol, South Korea's former president, has been found guilty of insurrection over his martial law attempt in 2024.

We'll bring you more updates as we get them.

The judge now says that former president Yoon Suk Yeol committed acts to subvert constitutional order.

Jake Kwon
Seoul correspondent

Image source, BBC/HOSU LEE

The crowd are hanging on to every word judge says. A reminder that this verdict is being broadcast on live television in South Korea.

Each time he says something advantageous to Yoon, they cheer. Each time he doesn’t, they let out angry sighs.

Yoon was responsible for violently suppressing the parliament’s function, Judge Ji says.

The court has found that Yoon had indeed ordered military to capture specific individuals, including South Korea's current president Lee Jae Myung, who was the opposition leader at the time.

The court also believes Yoon intended to paralyse political activity inside the National Assembly, judge Ji Gwi-yeon says.

Hosu Lee
Reporting from Seoul

Image source, Hosu Lee/BBC

Hundreds, or even maybe thousands, of Yoon supporters have gathered outside the court and are keenly watching a screening of the court proceedings.

The court says the core of this case is that Yoon had sent military troops to the Parliament when he declared martial law in December 2024.

Prosecutors have argued that Yoon had planned for this martial law as early as one year prior to December 2024.

However, the court sees insufficient evidence to support material proof of this, the judge says.

The judge delivering today's verdict begins by acknowledged that Yoon's defence team had raised questions about potential procedural errors in the investigation.

They had questioned if the prosecutors and the Corruption Investigation Office both held the authority to investigate this case.

He confirmed they did, and added there were ultimately no issues.

Jake Kwon
Seoul correspondent

Image source, Bloomberg via Getty Images

A guilty verdict is unlikely to end Yoon’s political life.

Yoon was a deeply unpopular president during his term. His conciliatory attitude towards Japan played badly among Korean voters, who are sensitive to the historical issues stemming from Japan's brutal occupation of the country.

His refusal to acknowledge growing calls to investigate his wife’s corruption led to a crushing defeat in the latest general election, held months before the martial law order.

But Yoon has reinvented himself as a populist right-wing figure after his removal.

He donned the red hat, inspired by the American Maga movement and doubled down on baseless claims that agents of Beijing and Pyongyang have stolen past elections.

Korean voters who have been wary of China’s growing influence had found their champion in Yoon.

More than a year since the martial law order, hundreds and thousands gather on weekends chanting his name and calling him a national hero.

Yoon may as well be found guilty today, but his supporters won’t give up any time soon.

More from inside the courtroom. The main judge has said that the reasoning for the decision in Yoon's case is quite long and that reading it may take some time.

The judges have just walked in and the court session has commenced.

Yoon is seen in his seat.

Stick with us as we bring you more updates.

Here is a video of the moment the bus believed to be carrying Yoon arrives at the Seoul Central District Court.

The hearing is due to start shortly.

Apart from insurrection, Yoon faces further trials – from aiding an enemy state to violating campaign law.

Prosecutors have accused him of trying to induce military conflict by ordering drone flights into the North, so as to justify his martial law declaration.

He has also been accused of perjury, related to when he testified during former prime minister Han Duck-soo's trial last year on charges of aiding the insurrection.

Apart from charges related to his martial law declaration, Yoon has also been indicted in a series of other cases, including allegedly obstructing an investigation into the death of a marine officer, and meddling with the 2022 elections.

Image source, AFP via Getty Images

A bus believed to be carrying ex-president Yoon Seuk Yeol has arrived at the Seoul Central District Court, according to media reports.

The vehicle with heavily-tinted windows is marked as belonging to the Korean Correctional Service.

Yoon will receive his verdict after the court convenes in about half an hour.

Stick with us as we bring you the latest.

Hundreds have gathered in Seoul in support of ex-president Yoon Suk Yeol, who's expected to receive a verdict on his insurrection trial today. Here are the latest photos from our team on the ground:

Image source, BBC/Jake Kwon

Image source, BBC/Leehyun Choi

Image source, BBC/Leehyun Choi