South Korean Prosecutors Seek Death Penalty for Former President Yoon Suk-yeol in Martial Law Appeal

South Korean prosecutors are pressing for the death penalty for former President Yoon Suk-yeol during an appeal hearing in Seoul, citing threats to the nation's democracy following his brief imposition of martial law in December 2024.

Special prosecutor Cho Eun-suk's team renewed the demand at the Seoul High Court on Thursday, following Yoon's earlier life imprisonment sentence in February after a conviction for leading an insurrection. According to South Korea's Yonhap news agency, a prosecutor stated there was "no reason to hesitate" regarding the capital punishment request, despite the nation maintaining a de facto moratorium on executions since 1997.

Background on the Martial Law Declaration

• Date of Declaration: December 3, 2024
• Actions Taken: Deployment of soldiers and police to the National Assembly
• Outcome: Lawmakers bypassed security to vote down the measure, leading to its withdrawal within six hours
• Removal from Office: Impeached by parliament in December 2024; removal upheld by the Constitutional Court in April 2025

Legal Arguments and Defense Position

Prosecutors maintain that Yoon attempted to paralyze parliament, detain political opponents, and secure prolonged control. They argued that the absence of recent executions in South Korea should not preclude a death sentence in this case.

Conversely, Yoon's defense team stated that his actions were intended to warn an opposition-controlled parliament against obstructing governance, rather than to build an authoritarian regime. Yoon himself denied seeking a long-term dictatorship during court proceedings on October 27.

Next Steps in the Judicial Process

The Seoul High Court has scheduled two additional appeal hearings, which will include Yoon's final statement on November 5. Observers can verify official updates and court schedules through major South Korean news agencies and judicial announcements.