Yoon Suk-yeol Death Penalty Request 2026: A Historic Reckoning for South Korea

Will a former president face the ultimate penalty? For the first time in 29 years, South Korean prosecutors have requested the death penalty for a former head of state. On January 14, 2026, a special prosecution team sought the sentence for Yoon Suk-yeol, who was ousted in April 2025 following an illegitimate martial law declaration. While the country hasn't carried out an execution since 1997, the request marks a significant turning point in the nation's democratic history.

Yoon Suk-yeol Death Penalty Request: Echoes of 1996

Assistant Special Prosecutor Park Eok-su didn't mince words during the final hearing at the Seoul Central District Court. He labeled Yoon as the "ringleader of the insurrection" who orchestrated the events of December 3, 2024. According to the prosecution, the law limits sentencing options for insurrection to death or life imprisonment, and they argued that Yoon's total lack of remorse justifies the maximum penalty. They emphasized that this trial must prove that even the highest elites cannot escape the justice system when they destroy constitutional order.

The situation draws inevitable parallels to the 1996 trials of former presidents Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo. Chun was initially sentenced to death but later commuted to life imprisonment, while Roh received 17 years. Both were eventually pardoned in a gesture of national unity. However, experts suggest that Yoon may face a tougher path, as public sentiment remains sharply critical of his actions and his defense strategy, which many perceive as defiant.

The Defense: A Constitutional Exercise of Power?

Yoon Suk-yeol continues to maintain his innocence. In a 90-minute final statement, he argued that his use of emergency power was a constitutional effort to save the country, not a military dictatorship. He described the ongoing investigation as a "frenzied sword dance" and claimed he was merely informing the public of a national emergency. Despite his pleas, the court has set a date for the first verdict on February 19, 2026.