STORY: A bus believed to be carrying South Korea's former president Yoon Suk Yeol arrived at the Seoul Central District Court on Thursday (February 19) as a ruling is expected on whether he is guilty of masterminding an insurrection linked to his December 2024 bid to impose martial law, in a case that could result in a death sentence.

Police buses formed a dense security cordon around the court and there was strong police presence at the court on Thursday.

The verdict, which will be closely watched in a deeply divided country, is the most consequential yet for the ousted leader, whose attempt to impose emergency rule triggered a national political crisis and tested the resilience of South Korea’s democratic institutions.

Yoon, 65, has denied the charges. The conservative former career prosecutor argued he had presidential authority to declare martial law and that his action was aimed at sounding the alarm over opposition parties' obstruction of government.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

VIDEO SHOWS: BUS BELIEVED TO BE CARRYING SOUTH KOREA'S EX-PRESIDENT YOON SUK YEOL ARRIVING AT COURT / EXTERIOR OF SEOUL CENTRAL DISTRICT COURT

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (FEBRUARY 19, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. BUS BELIEVED TO BE CARRYING SOUTH KOREA'S EX-PRESIDENT YOON SUK YEOL ARRIVING AT COURT

2. POLICE OFFICERS STANDING IN FRONT OF PRO-YOON PROTESTERS

3. YOON'S SUPPORTERS HOLDING BANNER READING (Korean): "STAY STRONG MR. PRESIDENT"

4. POLICE OFFICERS STANDING IN FRONT OF PRO-YOON PROTESTERS NEAR COURT

5. SIGN READING (Korean): "SEOUL BANKRUPTCY COURT (LEFT) / SEOUL CENTRAL DISTRICT COURT (CENTRE) / SEOUL HIGH COURT (RIGHT)"

6. POLICE BUSES, POLICE OFFICERS STATIONED IN FRONT OF COURT BUILDING

7. EXTERIOR OF SEOUL CENTRAL DISTRICT COURT

8. EMBLEM OF COURT READING (Korean): "COURT"