Prosecutors seek Yoon Suk Yeol death penalty request over 2024 martial law bid

South Korean prosecutors haven't held back in their pursuit of justice against former President Yoon Suk Yeol. In a high-stakes court session on January 13, 2026, they officially requested the death penalty for the ousted leader, citing his failed 2024 attempt to impose martial law as a direct threat to the nation's liberal democratic order.

The details of the Yoon Suk Yeol death penalty request

Special prosecutor Cho Eun-suk argued that Yoon's "self-coup" attempt left the citizens of South Korea as the greatest victims. After an exhausting 11-hour trial on Tuesday, the prosecution team concluded that no mitigating circumstances should spare the former president from the most severe punishment. Yoon, however, remains defiant. He characterized the investigations as "frenzied" and "manipulated," maintaining that he acted within his constitutional authority to counter an uncooperative opposition.

Legal precedent and current administration's stance

If convicted of insurrection, Yoon will become the third former president in South Korean history to face such charges, following military leaders from the 1979 coup era. Despite the heavy request, an execution is unlikely since South Korea hasn't carried one out since 1997. Meanwhile, the office of current President Lee Jae Myung has stated it trusts the judiciary to rule according to law and public standards. Yoon also faces a separate verdict this Friday regarding obstruction of justice, which could carry a 10-year prison sentence.