Death penalty for ex-South Korean president Yoon sought

International

SOUTH Korean prosecutors have formally asked a court to sentence former President Yoon Suk Yeol to death over his role in attempting to impose martial law in December 2024.

According to a BBC report, the request came during the closing arguments of his high-profile insurrection trial at the Seoul Central District Court. Prosecutors argue that Yoon’s actions threatened the country’s democratic constitutional order.

Yoon was impeached and removed from office in April 2025 after his brief martial law declaration sparked widespread protests and a constitutional crisis.

Lawmakers swiftly acted to overturn the decree, and the Supreme Court later ruled it unconstitutional. Following his dismissal, Yoon was arrested and has since been held pending multiple criminal cases.

The special prosecution team, led by Cho Eun-suk, told judges that Yoon’s declaration of emergency powers amounted to a self-coup attempt designed to cling to power.

Prosecutors said evidence showed a coordinated plan involving senior officials to undermine democratic institutions. They described the former leader’s conduct as an attack on the nation’s legal framework.

Under South Korean law, insurrection carries one of the most severe potential punishments, including the death penalty or life imprisonment. However, while the death penalty remains on the books, South Korea has not executed anyone since 1997. Legal experts note that even if a death sentence is handed down, it could be commuted on appeal.

Yoon has denied wrongdoing, insisting that his declaration of martial law was aimed at addressing political gridlock and protecting national security. In court, he argued that emergency powers were misinterpreted and that his intentions were to safeguard the nation, not overthrow it.

His defense team has criticized the prosecution’s request as politically motivated.

A final verdict in Yoon’s insurrection trial is expected in February, with judges weighing the evidence and arguments presented by both sides.(Victoria Diana, USJ-R Comm Intern)