South Korean prosecutor seeks death penalty for Yoon over martial law

A South Korean special prosecutor on Thursday demanded the death penalty for ousted president Yoon Suk-yeol, ahead of an appeal court verdict on rebellion charges over his brief imposition of martial law in December 2024.

The Seoul High Court has yet to set a date for a verdict on Yoon’s appeal of a life sentence handed down in February by the Seoul Central District Court. The court found that he illegally mobilised troops and police to seize the legislature, arrest political opponents and establish unchecked rule for a “considerable time”.

Investigators led by special prosecutor Cho Eun-suk also appealed the ruling, arguing Yoon deserved the death penalty because his actions posed a grave threat to the country’s democracy. An execution would be unlikely. South Korea

has not executed anyone since 1997, effectively maintaining a moratorium on capital punishment following calls for its abolition.