Yoon Suk Yeol Death Penalty Request: Special Counsel Seeks Capital Punishment in Insurrection Trial

South Korea faces a historic legal reckoning. According to Yonhap News, special prosecutors on Tuesday requested the death penalty for former President Yoon Suk Yeol, labeling him the 'ringleader of an insurrection' for his failed December 2024 martial law declaration. This move marks the final phase of a trial that has gripped the nation for over a year, testing the resilience of South Korean democracy.

The Yoon Suk Yeol Death Penalty Request and Legal Arguments

During the final hearing at the Seoul Central District Court on January 13, 2026, the team led by Special Counsel Cho Eun-suk argued that Yoon attempted to seize control of the judiciary and legislature to remain in power indefinitely. Assistant Special Counsel Park Eok-su stated that the nature of the crime is exceptionally grave, as it involved mobilizing national resources for private political gains rather than public safety.

Yoon, however, maintained his innocence during a 90-minute statement, describing the investigation as a 'frenzied sword dance' of political repression. He argued that a president’s constitutional right to declare an emergency cannot be categorized as an insurrection. Despite the severity of the request, Yoon was seen showing a faint smile from the dock, while his supporters in the gallery erupted in protest.

Proposed Sentences for Co-Conspirators

• Kim Yong-hyun (Former Defense Minister): Life Imprisonment
• Noh Sang-won (Former Intelligence Commander): 30 years in prison
• Cho Ji-ho (Former National Police Chief): 20 years in prison
• Kim Bong-sik (Former Seoul Police Chief): 15 years in prison