South Korean Prosecutors Seek Death Penalty for Former President Yoon Suk Yeol

Seoul, South Korea – South Korean prosecutors requested the death penalty for former President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday, accusing him of leading a failed insurrection in December 2024. The request was made to the Seoul Central District Court by Special Prosecutor Cho Eun-suk's team, according to Al Jazeera.

Yoon is accused of attempting to impose military rule, a move prosecutors described as a "self-coup" that threatened the country's "liberal democratic constitutional order," Al Jazeera reported. "The greatest victims of the insurrection in this case are the people of this country," prosecutors stated, arguing that there were "no mitigating circumstances to be considered in sentencing, and instead, a severe punishment must" be imposed.

The BBC reported that the trial underscores the gravity of challenging democratic processes. While South Korea has not carried out an execution in decades, the prosecution's request raises questions about the practical implications of the sentence. The BBC noted that the request highlights the severity with which the South Korean legal system views attempts to subvert democratic institutions.

The case stems from Yoon's actions in December 2024, when he allegedly attempted to impose martial law. The specific details of the alleged attempt were not fully detailed in either source. The trial is ongoing at the Seoul Central District Court, and the court will now consider the prosecution's request in determining Yoon's sentence.