South Korean prosecutor wants death sentence for ex-President Yoon over martial law decree
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A South Korean court heard arguments Tuesday seeking the death penalty for former President Yoon Suk Yeol; prosecutors accused the ousted leader of orchestrating a rebellion through his controversial declaration of martial law in December 2024.
Independent lawyer Cho Eun-suk asked the Seoul Central District Court to impose the sentence, arguing that Yoon’s actions amounted to “anti-state activities” and calling the decree a “self-coup”.
Yoon, a conservative who was impeached last spring, remains in custody while facing multiple criminal cases tied to the martial law incident and other controversies surrounding his presidency. Prosecutors say the riot charge carries the harshest possible penalty.
SOUTH KOREA Prosecutors filed a criminal complaint against the president who declared martial law
Then, ousted former President of South Korea Yoon Suk Yeol, who is accused of staging a rebellion when he declared martial law on December 3, arrives to attend his trial at the Seoul Central District Court in Seoul, South Korea, on Monday, May 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
Cho’s team argued in court that Yoon was trying to extend his rule by undermining South Korea’s constitutional system of government.
Yoon denied the accusations and told the court that investigations into his behavior were “crazy” and marked by “manipulation” and “distortion”.
He argued that the declaration of martial law was intended to alert the public to what he saw as the growing threat posed by the opposition Democratic Party, which was using its legislative majority to thwart its own political agenda.
Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is facing eight trials on various criminal charges in connection with the controversial martial law decree and other scandals. (AP)
Yoon argued that the use of the president’s emergency powers cannot be considered a rebellion under the law.
The court is expected to give its decision next month. Legal experts said that a life sentence was more likely than execution, noting that South Korea had not imposed the death penalty since 1997.
SOUTH KOREA’S PRESIDENT removed from office four months after declaring martial law
Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol criticized investigations into sedition accusations, saying they were “crazy” and involved “manipulation” and “distortion.” (AP)
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Yoon is the first South Korean president to face the potential death penalty after leaving office since Chun Doo-hwan was sentenced to death for various crimes in 1996. Chun’s death sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment, and he was later pardoned and released.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
