South Korean prosecutors press for death sentence in Yoon martial law case
Summary
South Korean prosecutors renewed their request for the death penalty for former President Yoon Suk-yeol at an appeal hearing in Seoul, arguing that his 2024 martial law declaration threatened democracy. Yoon, who was sentenced to life in prison for leading an insurrection, denies that he sought to establish authoritarian rule; the appeals court plans further hearings before reaching a decision.Key Facts
- Prosecutors renewed their death-penalty request at a Seoul High Court hearing on Thursday, October 29.
- Yoon was sentenced to life imprisonment in February after a court convicted him of leading an insurrection.
- Yoon declared martial law on December 3, 2024, and sent soldiers and police to the National Assembly.
- Lawmakers voted down the martial law measure, and the government withdrew it about six hours after its announcement.
- The lower court found that Yoon tried to prevent parliament from functioning, detain political opponents and remain in power.
- Yoon’s lawyers said he intended to warn parliament, not establish authoritarian rule.
- South Korea has retained the death penalty but has not carried out an execution since 1997.
- Parliament impeached Yoon in December 2024, and the Constitutional Court removed him from office in April 2025; the appeals court plans another hearing for November 5.
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