S-Korean prosecutors request death penalty for ex-president

(MENAFN) South Korean prosecutors have formally requested the death penalty for ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol, who faces charges of insurrection linked to his 2024 declaration of martial law, allegedly aimed at retaining power. During closing arguments at the Seoul Central District Court, the special prosecutor labeled Yoon, 65, as the “ringleader of an insurrection,” citing an investigation that reportedly found evidence of a premeditated scheme dating back to 2023 to seize control of state institutions.

Yoon denies the charges, arguing that his martial law declaration was within presidential authority. He claimed it was a necessary response to legislative deadlock and an alleged pro-Pyongyang plot by political opponents.

The emergency martial law, issued in December 2024, marked South Korea’s first use of such powers since 1980. It immediately sparked public protests and was overturned by parliament within six hours. During that brief period, hundreds of troops were mobilized to key state institutions, including the National Assembly, ostensibly to prevent lawmakers from convening. Opponents condemned the action as an unconstitutional overreach of executive power.

The incident triggered widespread unrest and ultimately led to Yoon’s impeachment later that month. He was arrested in January 2025 and formally removed from office by the Constitutional Court in April, becoming the first sitting South Korean president to face criminal charges while in office.

While South Korean law permits capital punishment for insurrection, no executions have been carried out since 1997. Legal analysts consider a life sentence a more probable outcome for Yoon, despite the prosecutors’ request for the death penalty.

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