South Korea’s Yoon Appeals Life Sentence as Lee Warns Homeowners, Fire Claims Victim
Updated (2 articles)
Yoon Suk Yeol’s legal team files appeal after life‑sentence ruling Former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s lawyers lodged an appeal on Feb. 24, 2026, just five days after a court sentenced him to life imprisonment for leading the Dec. 3, 2024 insurrection that briefly imposed martial law [1]. The appeal challenges the conviction and seeks to overturn the unprecedented penalty. Yoon’s sentencing trial, which began 444 days after the martial‑law decree, remains a focal point of South Korean politics [2].
Lee Jae Myung cautions multiple‑home owners about market volatility President Lee Jae Myung warned owners of several homes on Feb. 24 that they must assume risks and responsibilities if housing prices normalize, citing weakening expectations for price gains in the Seoul metropolitan area [1]. He linked the warning to broader concerns about real‑estate inequality ahead of upcoming elections. Lee’s statement reflects growing political pressure on property owners amid a cooling market.
Donald Trump threatens higher tariffs on nations defying court decision Former U.S. President Donald Trump posted on social media on Feb. 24 that any country challenging the Supreme Court’s recent rejection of his emergency‑tariff authority under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act would face “much higher” duties [1]. The threat targets nations perceived as “playing games” with U.S. trade policy. Trump’s remarks add a new layer of tension to U.S.–East Asian economic relations.
Kim Yo‑jong’s promotion and tragic Seoul apartment fire State media announced on Feb. 24 that Kim Yo‑jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong‑un, was appointed as one of 17 new department heads at the Workers’ Party’s ninth central committee [1]. Later that morning, a blaze erupted at the Eunma Apartments in Daechi‑dong, Gangnam Ward at 6:18 a.m., killing a teenage girl and injuring three others, two with facial burns [1]. The incident underscores ongoing safety concerns in densely populated Seoul neighborhoods.
Sources
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1.
Yonhap: Lee warns homeowners, Yoon appeals sentence, Trump threatens tariffs, Kim Yo‑jong promoted, Seoul fire kills one: reports Lee’s housing warning, Yoon’s appeal, Trump’s tariff threat, Kim Yo‑jong’s promotion, and a fatal fire in Seoul on Feb. 24 .
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Yonhap: South Korean Newspapers Highlight Politics, Real Estate, and Tech on Feb. 19: summarizes Feb. 19 headlines, noting Yoon’s sentencing trial 444 days after his martial‑law decree, opposition criticism of multiple‑home owners, Trump’s comment on Japan’s investment pressure, senior‑care demographics, and plans to reinstate a DMZ no‑fly zone .
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Timeline
Dec 3, 2024 – Former President Yoon Suk Yeol briefly imposes martial law, an action later used as the basis for his life‑sentence insurrection charge [1].
Feb 19, 2026 – Yonhap publishes a roundup of the day’s top headlines, highlighting political, economic and social issues dominating South Korean media [2].
Feb 19, 2026 – Opposition leader labels a politician a “social demon” for allegedly equalizing wealth among multiple‑home owners, underscoring heated real‑estate debates ahead of elections [2].
Feb 19, 2026 – President Yoon Suk Yeol faces a sentencing trial, 444 days after his Dec 3, 2024 martial‑law decree, marking a pivotal moment in the legal scrutiny of his administration [2].
Feb 19, 2026 – Former U.S. President Donald Trump claims Japan’s new investment pressures South Korea, reflecting rising economic tensions between the allies [2].
Feb 19, 2026 – South Korea’s senior nursing‑care population reaches one million, while real‑estate concerns surface as a key issue for voters in the upcoming general elections [2].
Feb 19, 2026 – Seoul seeks to reinstate an inter‑Korean no‑fly zone over the DMZ to deter drone incursions, indicating heightened security measures against North Korean threats [2].
Feb 24, 2026 – President Lee Jae Myung warns owners of multiple homes that they must bear market risks as price‑growth expectations weaken in the Seoul metropolitan area [1].
Feb 24, 2026 – Former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s lawyers file an appeal against his life‑sentence for insurrection, five days after the court’s ruling [1].
Feb 24, 2026 – President Donald Trump threatens “much higher” tariffs on any nation that “plays games” after the Supreme Court rejects his emergency‑tariff authority under the 1977 IEPA [1].
Feb 24, 2026 – Kim Yo‑jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong‑un, is promoted to a department‑head position in the Workers’ Party during its ninth central committee congress [1].
Feb 24, 2026 – A fire erupts at Seoul’s Eunma Apartments in Daechi‑dong, Gangnam Ward at 6:18 a.m., killing a teenage girl and injuring three others, two with facial burns [1].