South Korean prosecutors have requested the death penalty for former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who is on trial for insurrection over his 2024 declaration of martial law in what was an alleged attempt to stay in power.
In a Seoul Central District Court on Tuesday, the special prosecutor described Yoon in their closing arguments as the ringleader of an insurrection. The evidence presented alongside these statements was that, as far back as 2023, Yoon had masterminded and schemed to seize control of primary state functions.
Yoon, who was a rigid right-wing political figure and anti-communist, denied the charges and insisted that he was well within his powers as president to declare martial law. He also argued that, due to legislative gridlock and what he described as a brewing rebellion being plotted by pro-Pyongyang forces within his political opposition, his actions were justified.
In December 2024, Yoon called an emergency martial law, declaring that communist and pro-Pyongyang forces within the government were seeking to take control and undermine South Korea’s integrity. The declaration of martial law triggered immediate backlash across South Korean society from both the political opposition and the general population. The declaration was also overturned by the South Korean parliament within a day.
Martial law had not been declared in South Korea since the 1980s and plunged the country into what can be described as a constitutional crisis. The armed forces were briefly mobilised and sent to positions at key state apparatuses such as the National Assembly. According to the prosecution, the mobilisation of troops to these positions was an attempt to prevent lawmakers from convening and to prevent parliamentary authority from overruling the martial law.
Yoon’s move initiated outrage among opposition groups and sparked large protests calling for his resignation, which together created an environment of political chaos that eventually led to Yoon being impeached later that same month.
Yoon was eventually arrested in January 2025 and was formally removed from office. This took place after a standoff between security forces and forces loyal to Yoon. Capital punishment in South Korea is permitted in relation to insurrection attempts; however, most experts in South Korean law believe that a life sentence is the more likely outcome for Yoon.
In response to Yoon’s removal, a snap election was held in South Korea, which led to the election of Lee Jae Myung, who has so far pursued very different policies from those of Yoon. Most notably, he has attempted to develop stronger cooperation with China and to re-establish contact with North Korea to help normalise relations between the two countries.
BakuTiflis 