South Korean prosecutors press for death sentence in Yoon martial law case
Prosecutors renew demand for capital punishment in appeal hearing regarding failed martial law attempt
Quick Look
- South Korean prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for former President Yoon Suk-yeol during an appeal hearing, citing his failed attempt to impose martial law in December 2024.
- Yoon was previously sentenced to life imprisonment for insurrection.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Yoon Suk-yeol declared martial law on December 3, 2024, leading to his impeachment and subsequent removal from office by the Constitutional Court in April 2025.
South Korean prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for former President Yoon Suk-yeol over his failed attempt to impose military rule.
The team led by special prosecutor Cho Eun-suk renewed the demand at an appeal hearing in Seoul on Thursday, arguing that Yoon’s actions threatened South Korea‘s democracy.
He was sentenced to life imprisonment in February after being convicted of leading an insurrection.
Prosecutors had previously sought the death penalty at Yoon’s original trial in January, but the court sentenced him to life imprisonment the following month.
At Thursday’s hearing at the Seoul High Court, a prosecutor said there was “no reason to hesitate” over imposing the death penalty, according to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency.
South Korea retains the death penalty but has not carried out an execution since 1997.
Prosecutors argued that this long pause should not prevent judges from sentencing Yoon to death.
Yoon declared martial law on December 3, 2024, deploying soldiers and police to the National Assembly, South Korea’s parliament.
Lawmakers overcame a security blockade to vote down the measure, forcing the government to withdraw it about six hours after it was announced.
The lower court found that Yoon had tried to stop parliament from functioning, detain political opponents and remain in control of the country for an extended period.
Yoon’s lawyers told reporters on Thursday that he had intended to warn an opposition-controlled parliament against what he considered attempts to obstruct his government, not to establish authoritarian rule.
Speaking at the Seoul High Court on October 27, Yoon also denied seeking to establish a long-term dictatorship, according to the Hankyoreh newspaper.
The crisis led parliament to impeach Yoon in December 2024. South Korea’s Constitutional Court, which decides whether to uphold impeachments, removed him from office in April 2025.
The appeals court plans two more hearings, including Yoon’s final statement on November 5.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Final statement by Yoon Suk-yeol scheduled for November 5.
Very likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- Will the Seoul High Court grant the prosecution's request for the death penalty?
- What will be the content of Yoon's final statement on November 5?
