South Korean Prosecutors Demand Death Penalty in Appeal of Former President Yoon's Martial Law Case
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Published by: The Independent — News
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On Thursday, 29 October 2026, South Korean prosecutors led by Special Prosecutor Cho Eun-suk formally demanded the death penalty during an appeal hearing at the Seoul High Court. This marks a renewed legal effort to hold former President Yoon Suk Yeol accountable for his December 2024 martial law declaration.
The prosecution argued that the action constituted an insurrection that dismantled constitutional principles and sought to reverse decades of democratic progress. The team maintained that the death penalty is the only sentence capable of fully addressing such a crime, asserting there is 'no reason to hesitate' in imposing it.
The lower court had previously sentenced Yoon to life imprisonment in February 2026, but prosecutors claim this was insufficient. They dispute the finding that the operation was restrained, asserting instead that public resistance and military reluctance caused its failure. Yoon’s legal team countered, stating only 280 unarmed order-maintenance troops were deployed and that the action was intended to address opposition obstruction, not to establish authoritarian rule.
The case remains under appeal, with no final verdict yet issued. South Korea has not carried out an execution since 1997, and the death penalty remains legally available under statute, though not in practice.
The event is a procedural development, not a conviction or finding of guilt. The demand is based on legal arguments, not proven intent or misconduct.
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