South Korea Prosecutors Seek Death Penalty for Ex‑President Yoon

South Korean prosecutors have formally requested the death penalty for former President Yoon Suk Yeol over insurrection charges connected to his controversial decision to impose martial law in December 2024, a court hearing in Seoul was told on Tuesday.

The special prosecution team argued that Yoon’s actions, declaring martial law and allegedly attempting to subvert the constitutional order, constituted an insurrection that gravely threatened the nation’s democratic foundations. The prosecution’s demand was made during a hearing at the Seoul Central District Court, where the case is being reviewed.

Under South Korean law, insurrection carries penalties including life imprisonment or the death penalty, although capital punishment has not been enforced in the country since 1997. Yoon’s legal team has denied wrongdoing, saying his decision was a lawful response to political obstruction.

The trial stems from Yoon’s brief imposition of martial law on December 3, 2024, which was swiftly revoked by the National Assembly and led to political turmoil. Yoon was removed from office by the Constitutional Court in April 2025 and faces other related charges, including abuse of power.

A verdict in the case is expected in February 2026, with prosecutors seeking the most severe punishment allowed under the legal code.