Prosecutors seek death penalty for South Korean ex-president

Yoon Suk Yeol is accused of insurrection over his 2024 declaration of martial law in an alleged attempt to stay in power

South Korean prosecutors have requested the death penalty for former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who is on trial for insurrection over his 2024 declaration of martial law in an alleged attempt to stay in power.

In closing arguments at the Seoul Central District Court on Tuesday, the special prosecutor described Yoon, 65, as the “ringleader of an insurrection,” citing an investigation that reportedly found evidence that he had masterminded a scheme, dating back to 2023, to seize control of state functions.

Yoon has denied the charges, insisting he was within his powers as president to declare martial law, citing a legislative gridlock and a supposed “rebellion” being plotted by pro-Pyongyang forces within the political opposition.

The emergency martial law declared in December 2024 triggered immediate public protests and was overturned by parliament within a day.

The surprise declaration – the first use of martial law in South Korea since 1980 – plunged the country into a constitutional crisis as hundreds of armed troops were briefly mobilized and dispatched to key state institutions, including the National Assembly, apparently to preempt parliamentary authority and block lawmakers from convening. Opponents denounced the decree as a dangerous overreach of executive power, and the National Assembly swiftly voted unanimously to overturn the order, forcing Yoon to lift it after roughly six hours.

The move sparked large protests and calls for resignation from opposition leaders, and political chaos that ultimately culminated in a successful impeachment drive later that month.

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Yoon was arrested in January 2025 and formally removed from office by the Constitutional Court in April. He became the first sitting South Korean president to be detained and face criminal charges while in office.

Although South Korean law allows for capital punishment in cases of insurrection, Seoul has not carried out an execution since 1997. Legal experts believe a life sentence is a more likely outcome for Yoon.

The court is expected to deliver its verdict in February.

Yoon’s ouster led to a snap presidential election won by his rival, Lee Jae-myung, whose administration has pursued a policy of normalization with North Korea. This has included halting propaganda broadcasts at the border, marking a sharp reversal from Yoon’s hardline stance.