An independent prosecutor has urged the imposition of the death penalty for former South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol on charges of rebellion stemming from his brief declaration of martial law in December 2024. Yoon, who was ousted from office last April and is currently incarcerated, is facing multiple trials on various criminal allegations related to the martial law incident and other controversies that arose during his tenure. Of these charges, the accusation of orchestrating a rebellion holds particular significance.
The team led by independent prosecutor Cho Eun-suk has petitioned the Seoul Central District Court to sentence Yoon to death, characterizing his decree as “anti-state activities” and “a self-coup.” They contend that Yoon’s objective was to extend his rule by undermining the established constitutional framework of governance in the state.
During a subsequent appearance in the same courtroom, Yoon criticized the investigations into his rebellion charges, denouncing them as “hysterical” and accusing them of involving “manipulation” and “distortion.” Yoon, a conservative figure, reiterated that his decree was a desperate measure to alert the public to what he perceived as the threat posed by the liberal opposition Democratic Party, which obstructed his policies using its parliamentary majority. He argued that the use of emergency presidential powers should not be equated with rebellion.
The court is anticipated to render a verdict in February, with experts predicting that Yoon is likely to receive a life sentence. South Korea has not carried out any executions since 1997, and the death penalty has been seldom handed down by local courts in recent times.
Yoon is poised to become the first former South Korean president facing a potential death sentence after leaving office since former military leader Chun Doo-hwan, who was condemned to death in 1996 for spearheading a military coup in 1979. Chun’s death sentence was subsequently commuted to life imprisonment, and he was eventually pardoned and released.
Yoon’s unprecedented decree in over four decades saw armed forces deployed on Seoul’s streets to encircle the National Assembly and enter electoral offices. Although no significant injuries were reported, the incident evoked memories of past dictatorships in the 1970s and 1980s, when military-backed regimes utilized martial law and emergency decrees to suppress pro-democracy demonstrations by stationing troops and armored vehicles in public areas.
On the night of Yoon’s martial law declaration, thousands gathered at the National Assembly to protest the decree and demand his resignation. Sufficient lawmakers, including members of Yoon’s own party, managed to convene to vote down the decree.
Observers characterized Yoon’s actions as political suicide, marking a dramatic downfall for the once-prominent prosecutor who ascended to the presidency in 2022, a year after entering politics. Following his impeachment by the National Assembly and subsequent dismissal by the Constitutional Court, South Korea was thrown into political upheaval, disrupting high-level diplomacy and unsettling financial markets.
Lee Jae Myung, a former Democratic Party leader who spearheaded Yoon’s impeachment, assumed the presidency in a snap election last June. Subsequently, Lee appointed three independent prosecutors to investigate allegations involving Yoon, his spouse, and associates.
The presidential office has expressed its expectation that the judicial branch will adjudicate Yoon’s case in accordance with the law, principles, and public expectations. Speculation had circulated that Yoon’s declaration of martial law was a bid to shield his wife, Kim Keon Hee, from potential corruption probes. However, following a six-month inquiry concluded last month, the team led by independent prosecutor Cho determined that Yoon had schemed for over a year to impose martial law to eliminate his political adversaries and consolidate power.
