diff --git a/review/persona.go b/review/persona.go
index 8e037a0..0f7f141 100644
--- a/review/persona.go
+++ b/review/persona.go
@@ -51,7 +51,13 @@ type Severity struct {
 // LoadPersona loads a persona from a JSON or YAML file path.
 // Format is detected by file extension: .yaml/.yml for YAML, .json or other for JSON.
 // Files larger than MaxPersonaFileSize are rejected.
+//
+// Symlinks are supported: os.Stat follows symlinks, so a symlink pointing to
+// a regular file will pass the IsRegular() check. Symlinks to non-regular files
+// (directories, FIFOs, devices) are still rejected.
 func LoadPersona(path string) (*Persona, error) {
+	// os.Stat follows symlinks, so symlinks to regular files are supported.
+	// The IsRegular() check operates on the target, not the symlink itself.
 	info, err := os.Stat(path)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("read persona file %s: %w", path, err)
@@ -76,23 +82,15 @@ func LoadPersona(path string) (*Persona, error) {
 
 // LoadBuiltinPersona loads a built-in persona by name.
 // Returns an error if the persona doesn't exist.
-// Built-in personas are stored in YAML format.
+// Built-in personas are stored in YAML format only (see embed directive).
 func LoadBuiltinPersona(name string) (*Persona, error) {
-	// Try YAML first (preferred format)
 	yamlFile := name + ".yaml"
 	data, err := embeddedPersonas.ReadFile("personas/" + yamlFile)
-	if err == nil {
-		return parsePersona(data, "builtin:"+yamlFile)
-	}
-
-	// Fall back to JSON for backwards compatibility
-	jsonFile := name + ".json"
-	data, err = embeddedPersonas.ReadFile("personas/" + jsonFile)
 	if err != nil {
 		available := ListBuiltinPersonas()
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("unknown built-in persona %q (available: %s)", name, strings.Join(available, ", "))
 	}
-	return parsePersona(data, "builtin:"+jsonFile)
+	return parsePersona(data, "builtin:"+yamlFile)
 }
 
 // ListBuiltinPersonas returns the names of all built-in personas in sorted order.
@@ -143,7 +141,11 @@ func parsePersona(data []byte, source string) (*Persona, error) {
 	if isYAML {
 		err = unmarshalYAMLWithDepthLimit(data, &p, MaxYAMLDepth)
 	} else {
-		err = json.Unmarshal(data, &p)
+		// Use json.Decoder with DisallowUnknownFields for consistency with
+		// YAML's KnownFields(true) - both reject unknown fields to catch typos.
+		dec := json.NewDecoder(bytes.NewReader(data))
+		dec.DisallowUnknownFields()
+		err = dec.Decode(&p)
 	}
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("parse persona %s: %w", source, err)
diff --git a/review/persona_test.go b/review/persona_test.go
index f1f40db..b90eae7 100644
--- a/review/persona_test.go
+++ b/review/persona_test.go
@@ -693,3 +693,86 @@ severity:
 		})
 	}
 }
+
+func TestJSONUnknownFieldsRejected(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name    string
+		content string
+		wantErr string
+	}{
+		{
+			name: "unknown top-level field",
+			content: `{
+				"name": "test",
+				"identity": "test identity",
+				"unknown_field": "should fail"
+			}`,
+			wantErr: "unknown_field",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "typo in field name",
+			content: `{
+				"name": "test",
+				"identiy": "typo should fail"
+			}`,
+			wantErr: "identiy",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "unknown field in severity",
+			content: `{
+				"name": "test",
+				"identity": "test",
+				"severity": {
+					"major": "ok",
+					"miner": "typo"
+				}
+			}`,
+			wantErr: "miner",
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			dir := t.TempDir()
+			path := filepath.Join(dir, "test.json")
+			if err := os.WriteFile(path, []byte(tt.content), 0644); err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("failed to write test file: %v", err)
+			}
+
+			_, err := LoadPersona(path)
+			if err == nil {
+				t.Fatal("expected error for unknown field, got nil")
+			}
+			if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), tt.wantErr) {
+				t.Errorf("error = %q, want to contain %q", err.Error(), tt.wantErr)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestLoadPersonaSymlink(t *testing.T) {
+	// Create a regular persona file
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	realFile := filepath.Join(dir, "real.yaml")
+	content := `name: test
+identity: test identity
+`
+	if err := os.WriteFile(realFile, []byte(content), 0644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to write test file: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// Create a symlink to it
+	symlink := filepath.Join(dir, "link.yaml")
+	if err := os.Symlink(realFile, symlink); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to create symlink: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// LoadPersona should work via symlink
+	p, err := LoadPersona(symlink)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("LoadPersona via symlink failed: %v", err)
+	}
+	if p.Name != "test" {
+		t.Errorf("Name = %q, want %q", p.Name, "test")
+	}
+}