South Korea seeks death penalty for ex-president Yoon over martial law bid

South Korean special prosecutor requests summary death penalty for former president Yoon Suk Yeol–He experienced the declaration of martial law in 2024.

The request came as Yoon’s trial wrapped up late Tuesday. The court is expected to announce its decision on February 19.

Yoon is accused of leading an insurrection, a crime not protected by presidential immunity and carrying the maximum death penalty.

If he is executed, it would be the first execution in South Korea in almost 30 years.

Amnesty International Classifying the country as “practically abolitionist,” officials said South Korea still maintains the death penalty but has not executed anyone since 1997.

At the last hearing, special lawyer Cho Eun-suk’s team said Yoon declared martial law “in order to remain in power for a long time by seizing the judiciary and legislature.” South Korean media reports.

Yoon reportedly maintained his innocence, saying the declaration was within his constitutional authority and was intended to “protect freedom and sovereignty.”

At that time Yoon blamed those times–He accused the opposition Democratic Party of Korea of ​​engaging in “anti-state activities” and colluding with “North Korean communists”.

On December 3, 2024, Yoon ordered the country’s National Assembly to send in troops after declaring martial law in a late-night speech. As special forces attempted to enter the room, soldiers blocked access and clashed with protesters and MPs.

However, within three hours, the martial law order was overturned after 190 of the 300 National Assembly MPs gathered in parliament and voted unanimously to overturn the decree. Yoon finally lifted martial law about six hours after it was declared.

The last military coup in South Korea took place in 1979, when then-army general Chun Doo-hwan seized control following the assassination of President Park Chung-hee.

Chun later expanded martial law nationwide in 1980; this movement led to the 1980 Gwangju uprising; Meanwhile, soldiers violently suppressed protests in the southwestern city of Gwangju. Between 200 and 2,000 civilians were killed.

In that caseChun’s government accused the uprising of being instigated by “North Korean communists and gangsters”.

In 1996, Chun was sentenced to death for his role in the 1979 coup, but his sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment.