South Korean prosecutors demand death penalty for ex-president Yoon Suk Yeol over 2024 martial law declaration, accusing him of insurrection and abuse of power.
SEOUL: South Korean prosecutors have demanded the death penalty for former president Yoon Suk Yeol.
They made the request at the close of his trial for insurrection, abuse of power and other offences linked to his December 2024 declaration of martial law.
Prosecutors accused Yoon of being the ringleader of an “insurrection” motivated by a “lust for power aimed at dictatorship and long-term rule”.
They said his actions threatened “constitutional order and democracy” and showed “no remorse”.
“The greatest victims of the insurrection in this case are the people of this country,” they said.
Yoon triggered a political crisis when he announced an end to civilian rule and sent troops to parliament.
His attempt failed and he became the country’s first sitting president to be taken into custody last January.
Speaking in his own defence, Yoon was defiant, saying he was simply exercising his lawful authority.
“It was not a military dictatorship that suppresses citizens, but an effort to safeguard freedom and sovereignty, and revive the constitutional order,” Yoon said, as reported by Yonhap.
His defence team compared him to historical figures like Galileo Galilei and Giordano Bruno, who were wrongfully condemned.
“The majority does not always reveal the truth,” they said.
Prosecutors also asked that former defence minister Kim Yong-hyun be sentenced to life imprisonment.
The current trial features eight defendants seen as ringleaders of the martial law bid.
The court is expected to hand down its ruling on February 19.
If found guilty, Yoon will become the third South Korean president convicted for insurrection.
Even if sentenced to death, it is unlikely to be carried out as South Korea has had an unofficial moratorium on executions since 1997.
Prosecutors are also seeking a 10-year prison term for Yoon on separate obstruction of justice charges.
A verdict in that case is expected this Friday.
He also faces a future trial on charges of aiding the enemy over allegations he ordered drone flights over North Korea.
