January 13th, 2026 - Prosecutors Seek Death Penalty for South Korea’s Impeached Former President

On Tuesday, a special counsel in Seoul requested that a court sentence South Korea’s impeached former president, Yoon Suk Yeol, to death, citing his actions during the imposition of martial law in late 2024. The charge against Yoon is insurrection, related to his attempt to seize control of the country’s government for a brief period. The court is expected to issue a verdict and sentence in the coming weeks, with the only two possible penalties being the death penalty or life imprisonment under South Korea’s criminal code.

Although the possibility of execution remains, experts believe it is unlikely that Yoon would be executed, as South Korea has not carried out a death sentence since 1997. The last sitting president sentenced to death had his sentence commuted to life imprisonment. Yoon has been facing various criminal charges since his arrest in January 2025, and the trial for the insurrection charge concluded on Tuesday. The special counsel’s request for the death penalty comes after months of intense legal proceedings.

Yoon’s controversial decision to declare martial law on December 3, 2024, was quickly overturned after six hours when the opposition-led National Assembly voted it down. This act, which had not been seen in South Korea since the country’s democratization in the 1980s, triggered widespread unrest. Citizens in the capital, Seoul, blocked military troops from taking over the legislature, and many citizens feared the prospect of an authoritarian government.

This crisis led to Yoon’s impeachment by the Assembly and suspension from office just days after declaring martial law. Yoon became the first sitting president in South Korea’s history to face criminal charges. In April 2025, he was formally expelled from office. Prosecutors argue that Yoon’s imposition of martial law, along with his orders for military action against political opponents, constitutes an insurrection.

During the martial law period, the military raided several government offices, including the National Election Commission, which oversees elections in South Korea. This raid was purportedly conducted to gather evidence of voting fraud. However, Yoon has denied the insurrection charge, stating that he never intended to neutralize the legislature but sought to maintain order during a period of political obstruction by the opposition.

South Korea’s most recent case involving insurrection charges was that of former dictator Chun Doo-hwan, who led the country from 1979 to 1988. Chun’s death sentence was later reduced to life imprisonment, and he was released in 1997 after serving only two years in prison. Meanwhile, Yoon’s case continues to unfold in the courts, with separate trials for other charges, such as perjury and obstruction of justice.

The political fallout from Yoon’s actions remains significant, with ongoing legal challenges and protests calling for accountability. Yoon’s supporters argue that his actions were necessary to stabilize a government they viewed as paralyzed by the opposition. However, critics see his behavior as a dangerous attempt to consolidate power at the expense of democracy, raising questions about the future of South Korea’s political landscape.

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