South Korea Prosecutors Seek Death for Ex-Leader Yoon Over Martial Law Bid

Prosecutors in South Korea demanded the death penalty Tuesday night for former President Yoon Suk Yeol over his attempt to declare martial law last year. The request came during a court hearing in Seoul, where special counsel investigators laid out their case against Yoon and several top officials. The move targets what they call an insurrection plot that briefly threw the country into chaos before lawmakers and the public pushed back.

Background

Yoon Suk Yeol served as South Korea's president from 2022 until his removal from office in late 2025. His time in power ended amid growing unrest over economic troubles, scandals, and disputes with the opposition-controlled parliament. Tensions peaked in December 2024 when Yoon announced martial law late one night. He claimed it was needed to protect the nation from supposed threats by pro-North Korean forces and internal enemies.

The decree lasted only a few hours. Soldiers moved into key government buildings, and troops blocked the National Assembly. Lawmakers inside the building voted almost unanimously to overturn the order. Protests erupted across Seoul as citizens gathered to oppose the move. By morning, Yoon had backed down, but the damage was done. Parliament impeached him soon after, and the Constitutional Court upheld the impeachment months later.

This was not the first time South Korea faced such a crisis. The country has a history of military rule, especially during the Cold War era when leaders like Park Chung-hee seized power through coups. Martial law declarations happened multiple times in the 1970s and 1980s, often leading to crackdowns on dissent. Yoon's attempt echoed those dark days, stirring fears of a return to authoritarianism in a democracy still healing from its past.

Investigators quickly stepped in. A special counsel team, led by Cho Eun-suk, took over the probe. They gathered evidence from military records, witness statements, and communications between Yoon's inner circle. The case built slowly through 2025, with arrests and indictments piling up. Yoon has denied leading any insurrection, saying his actions were legal responses to national security risks.

Key Details

The special counsel team made their sentencing demands at 9:35 p.m. on January 13 in a Seoul court packed with reporters and supporters. For Yoon, they asked for the death penalty, calling him the central figure in the plot. They accused him of directing troops to seize control of parliament and detain opposition leaders.

Former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun faced the next heaviest punishment: life in prison. Prosecutors said he carried out key orders, including mobilizing forces to enforce the decree. Other defendants got lighter but still severe requests, like 20 to 30 years for aides and military officers involved.

Charges and Evidence

The main charge is insurrection, South Korea's gravest crime, punishable by death or life imprisonment. Prosecutors presented phone logs, text messages, and video footage showing Yoon's direct involvement. One key piece: orders from Yoon's office to the military just before the announcement. Witnesses, including army officers, testified they received instructions to block lawmakers from entering the assembly.

The team also detailed how Yoon bypassed normal channels. He met secretly with top commanders and ignored advice from legal experts. After the failure, documents showed efforts to cover tracks, like destroying records.

"Former President Yoon Suk Yeol led the insurrection as its chief orchestrator," the special counsel team stated in court. "His actions threatened the foundation of our democracy."

Yoon's defense team called the demands extreme. They argued the martial law was a temporary measure under the constitution, not a coup. Yoon himself spoke briefly, repeating that he acted to save the country from chaos.

The hearing lasted hours, with prosecutors reading a long list of evidence. Court security was tight, with police outside to manage crowds of Yoon supporters and critics.

What This Means

A death penalty demand is rare in modern South Korea. The country has not executed anyone since 1997, and even then, it was for multiple murders. Insurrection cases, though, carry unique weight because they strike at the state's core. If convicted, Yoon could face execution by hanging, though courts often commute such sentences to life terms.

The trial will drag on for months. Yoon's team plans appeals, and more evidence may emerge. Public reaction splits along political lines. Yoon's conservative base sees him as a victim of a witch hunt by left-leaning forces. Opposition groups view the case as justice for an abuse of power.

For South Korea's politics, this adds to instability. The country holds presidential elections soon, and the scandal dominates talk. Acting leaders face pressure to stabilize the economy while handling the fallout. Relations with North Korea, already tense, could worsen if the trial fuels division.

Internationally, eyes watch closely. Allies like the United States worry about Seoul's reliability as a partner against threats from Pyongyang and Beijing. The martial law fiasco already strained ties, with U.S. officials urging calm at the time.

Beyond the courtroom, the case tests South Korea's young democracy. It shows how institutions like the courts and parliament can check a leader's power. Yet it also highlights deep divides that make governance hard. Whatever the outcome, Yoon's legacy is now tied to this one night of drama that nearly upended the nation.

Prosecutors wrapped their arguments late into the night. The judge set the next hearing for next month, when the defense will respond. South Koreans wait to see if their former leader faces the ultimate punishment or walks free.