Prosecutors seek death penalty for former South Korean leader
Prosecutors have asked for the death penalty for former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol,who faces insurrection charges after briefly declaring martial law in December 2024. Yoon said the emergency measure was meant to guard against “pro‑North Korean anti‑state forces” and a “legislative dictatorship” by the national Assembly; the declaration lasted about six hours. The move lead to his impeachment and removal from office in April, and he has been in prison as July 2025. If the judges do not impose capital punishment, he could still receive life imprisonment, with or without forced labor.A panel of judges will review the prosecutors’ request and is expected to deliver a verdict in the coming weeks; any death sentence could be appealed up to South Korea’s Supreme Court. Yoon faces multiple criminal trials stemming from the martial‑law episode,with the insurrection charge regarded as the most serious.
Prosecutors seek death penalty for South Korean leader Yoon Suk Yeol
Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol could face the death penalty after prosecutors requested the punishment in his criminal case on Tuesday.
Yoon is facing insurrection charges after he briefly declared martial law in South Korea just over a year ago.
The prosecution’s request for the death penalty will be reviewed by a panel of judges. A verdict is expected in the coming weeks.
If not the death penalty, Yoon could face life in prison, with or without prison labor, for his actions in December 2024.
At the time, Yoon declared martial law to protect South Korea from “pro-North Korean anti-state forces” and a “legislative dictatorship” led by the country’s National Assembly. The declaration of emergency powers was very short-lived, only lasting about six hours.
The controversial move led to his impeachment, resulting in his removal from office last April. He was succeeded by Lee Jae Myung, who belonged to the opposite political party of the former president. The impeached leader has been in prison since July 2025.
Yoon faces multiple criminal trials over the martial law debacle. Given the possibility of the death penalty, the insurrection charges are considered to be the most serious.
If the judicial panel approves the death penalty in this case, Yoon could appeal the decision all the way to South Korea’s Supreme Court. It remains to be seen what the judges decide.
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