South Korean Prosecutors Seek Death Penalty for Former President Yoon Suk Yeol

A leader who once commanded the nation now faces the ultimate sentence. According to Kyodo News, South Korean prosecutors demanded the death penalty for former President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday, January 13, 2026. The request follows charges of leading an insurrection during his short-lived martial law declaration on December 3, 2024.

Why Prosecutors Seek Yoon Suk Yeol Death Penalty

The prosecution team categorized the events of late 2024 as a clear attempt to subvert the constitutional order. They alleged that Yoon Suk Yeol used military force to paralyze the National Assembly and interfere with judicial independence. Prosecutors also claimed that the former president tried to provoke North Korea into armed aggression to justify his martial law, an act they described as a grave threat to national security.

Defense Denial and Democratic Crisis

Yoon doesn't admit to being the 'ringleader' of any insurrection. His defense team argued that the martial law was a legitimate act of state to maintain order during a perceived national crisis. Outside the Seoul Central District Court, the atmosphere was tense. Supporters gathered to denounce the prosecution, while critics nearby called for justice for what they termed a betrayal of the people's trust.