Prosecutors say Yoon, who was impeached over a failed 2024 martial regulation declaration, threatened ‘constitutional order’.
Printed On 13 Jan 2026
South Korean prosecutors have requested for ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol to face the loss of life penalty over his failed try to impose martial regulation in 2024.
Particular prosecutor Cho Eun-suk’s staff made the request to the Seoul Central District Courtroom throughout court docket on Tuesday, accusing Yoon of threatening the “liberal democratic constitutional order” together with his “self-coup”.
“The best victims of the rebellion on this case are the individuals of this nation,” mentioned the prosecutors. “There aren’t any mitigating circumstances to be thought-about in sentencing, and as an alternative, a extreme punishment should be imposed.”
Yoon plunged South Korea right into a disaster together with his martial regulation declaration in December 2024, prompting protesters and lawmakers to swarm parliament to pressure a vote in opposition to the measure.
The decree was rapidly declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Courtroom, and Yoon was subsequently impeached, faraway from workplace and jailed.
Yoon’s prison trial for rebellion, abuse of energy, and different offences linked to the martial declaration ended on Tuesday after 11 hours of proceedings.
The court docket is anticipated to ship a verdict on the case on February 19, in line with the Yonhap information company.
Yoon says investigations ‘frenzied’
The previous president has denied the costs in opposition to him, arguing that he was appearing inside his authority to declare martial regulation in response to what he described as opposition events’ obstruction of presidency.
Talking in court docket Tuesday, Yoon criticised investigations into the rebel fees as “frenzied” and mired in “manipulation” and “distortion.”
If discovered responsible, Yoon will develop into the third South Korean president convicted of rebellion, following two ex-military leaders convicted over their roles within the 1979 coup.
However even when Yoon is handed a loss of life sentence, it’s unlikely to be applied, as South Korea has noticed an unofficial moratorium on executions since 1997.
Yoon additionally faces a number of different trials over varied prison fees associated to the martial regulation try and different scandals throughout his time in workplace.
A Seoul court docket is anticipated to ship a verdict on Friday on an obstruction of justice case, which might see Yoon going through 10 years in jail.
And he faces a trial on fees of aiding the enemy over allegations he ordered drone flights over North Korea to justify his martial regulation declaration.
The workplace of President Lee Jae Myung, who was elected after Yoon was faraway from workplace, mentioned in a press release that it “believes the judiciary will rule … in accordance with the regulation, ideas, and public requirements.”
