Prosecutors again seek death penalty for Yoon
South Korea’s special prosecutor considers the life sentence for the former president too lenient.
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South Korea’s special prosecutor has again sought the death penalty for former president Yoon Suk-yeol. The demand was made on Thursday during the final phase of the appeal against his failed declaration of martial law in December 2024.
The demand was made at the Seoul High Court, where Yoon’s appeal is being heard. It has not been confirmed whether the seven co-defendants will also stand trial. The prosecutor also sought the death penalty at first instance. In February, the court ultimately sentenced Yoon to life imprisonment for leading an insurrection.
According to the prosecutor, the declaration of martial law was not a limited political warning, as Yoon has argued, but an attempt to undermine the constitutional order. The prosecutor believes the sentence imposed by the court of first instance does not adequately reflect the seriousness of the case.
The case centres on the events of 3 December 2024. Yoon declared martial law at the time. That declaration is at the heart of the criminal case.
The court of first instance ruled that there had been both an intention to undermine the constitutional order and an armed insurrection. Yoon denies that he intended to stage a coup and has challenged the charges and his earlier conviction.
Thursday’s demand is a further step in the appeal. South Korea has carried out no executions since 1997 and is internationally regarded as a country that effectively no longer applies the death penalty. That does not mean a court cannot issue a death sentence, but its practical implementation is highly unlikely.
The appeal has not yet concluded. According to the court’s timetable, closing arguments and Yoon’s final statement will take place during upcoming hearings. The new demand is therefore not a ruling on his final sentence; that still has to be determined by the court.
Also show the region and a close-up
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- The special prosecutor has again sought the death penalty against Yoon Suk-yeol on appeal.
- Yoon was sentenced to life imprisonment at first instance for leading an insurrection related to the martial law declaration of December 2024.
- The appeal court has not yet imposed a final sentence.
- South Korea has carried out no executions since 1997.
Left
Arguments A severe sentence is needed to make clear that an elected president may not use military means to suspend the constitution and parliament. From this perspective, the rule of law must also hold former leaders effectively accountable.
Values Democratic oversight, protection of institutions and equality before the law.
Consequences A lenient sentence could, in this view, encourage future leaders to abuse emergency powers. At the same time, the death penalty may be seen as incompatible with human rights and a modern rule of law.
Centre
Arguments The judge must put the proven facts and the statutory sentencing framework first, without being guided by political pressure or public anger surrounding the crisis. Life imprisonment can acknowledge the seriousness without imposing a sentence that South Korea does not carry out in practice.
Values Judicial independence, proportionality and institutional stability.
Consequences A reasoned ruling could help restore confidence in the rule of law. A lengthy appeals process could instead place further strain on that confidence.
Right
Arguments From a legal perspective, the prosecution should not be used to settle political scores with a former conservative president. Yoon’s defence presented the martial law declaration as a political and temporary measure against obstruction by parliament.
Values State restraint, political pluralism and protection against politically motivated prosecution.
Consequences From this right-wing perspective, a death sentence could deepen social divisions and make future transfers of power more confrontational. At the same time, this perspective also maintains that military intervention in the political process must face rigorous legal scrutiny.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The article’s central point has been confirmed by multiple recent South Korean sources. Background on the earlier conviction, the appeal and the effective suspension of executions has been checked separately.
- confirmed The special prosecutor again sought the death penalty against Yoon Suk-yeol on 29 October. — Reported by The Herald Business and The Fact in connection with the hearing at the Seoul High Court. source
- confirmed Yoon was sentenced to life imprisonment at first instance. — The Herald Business and The Fact report the life sentence handed down in February 2026. source
- confirmed The case concerns the martial law declaration of 3 December 2024. — The sources link the charges to Yoon’s declaration of martial law in December 2024. source
- confirmed South Korea has carried out no executions since 1997. — KBS World states that the last execution took place in December 1997. source
- confirmed The appeal has not yet concluded and closing arguments are scheduled to follow. — Aju Press described the planned conclusion of the proceedings in early November; recent reports state that the 29 October hearing was part of the final phase. source
Editor's note
The new development — the repeated sentencing demand on appeal — has been confirmed by multiple South Korean news sources. The date, court, sentencing demand and earlier life sentence are certain; the final sentence and the timing of the ruling remain uncertain.Sources
- Special prosecutor seeks death penalty for Yoon in insurrection appeal — The Herald Business
- ‘내란 우두머리’ 윤석열 2심 종착역…특검, 1심은 사형 구형 — The Fact
- Yoon Suk Yeol’s Insurrection Appeal Trial Expected to Conclude in Early November — Aju Press
- Special Counsel Again Seeks Death Penalty for Former President Yoon in Insurrection Case — KBS World
More on this in Dutch media
- de Volkskrant — „zuid-korea yoon suk-yeol”
- RTL Nieuws — „zuid-korea yoon suk-yeol”
- NOS — „zuid-korea yoon suk-yeol”