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4w ago

Prosecutors Seek Death Penalty for Ex-President Yoon in Insurrection Trial Ahead of Feb. 19 Verdict

A Feb. 19 verdict will test South Korea’s resolve to hold a former leader legally accountable.

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A woman holds a sign bearing South Korean national flag with a portrait of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, as they wait for his arrival for the final arguments in his insurrection trial, at a court in Seoul, South Korea, January 13, 2026. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji
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Overview

  • Special counsel Cho Eun-suk’s team asked the Seoul Central District Court to sentence Yoon Suk Yeol to death for leading an insurrection tied to his Dec. 3, 2024 martial law declaration that lasted about six hours.
  • Prosecutors said Yoon sought to seize the judiciary and legislature by deploying troops around the National Assembly and attempting arrests, and noted that insurrection ringleaders face either death or life imprisonment under South Korean law.
  • The court scheduled its ruling for Feb. 19 after a marathon final hearing, and Yoon denied wrongdoing, arguing his actions were within presidential emergency powers to safeguard the nation.
  • Punishments sought for co-defendants include life for former defense minister Kim Yong-hyun, 30 years for retired Maj. Gen. Noh Sang-won, 20 years for former National Police Agency chief Cho Ji-ho, and 15 years for former Seoul police chief Kim Bong-sik.
  • Executions have not been carried out in South Korea since 1997, and Yoon faces separate trials that could add substantial prison time even if he does not receive a death sentence.