Former President Yoon Suk Yeol enters a courtroom at the Seoul Central District Court in Seoul, South Korea, 26 September 2025, to attend the first hearing of his second trial on martial law-related charges, appearing in public for the first time since he was placed under arrest in July. File. Photo by YONHAP /EPA
Jan. 13 (Asia Today) — South Korea’s special prosecutor on Tuesday asked a court to sentence former President Yoon Suk-yeol to death, calling him the leader of an insurrection tied to the Dec. 3 emergency martial law declaration.
At a final hearing at the Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Division 25, the special prosecutor’s office also sought life imprisonment for former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, 30 years in prison for former intelligence commander Roh Sang-won and 20 years for former National Police Agency Commissioner Cho Ji-ho.
Special Prosecutor Park Eok-soo argued that Yoon and other defendants sought to monopolize power and pursue long-term rule by using martial law to seize legislative and judicial authority, disregarding the harm to the public. Park said the alleged conduct amounted to anti-state activity and a fundamental violation of national security and public welfare, citing what he called the purpose, means and execution of the plan.
Park said the case involved a grave constitutional breach, pointing to the alleged storming of the National Assembly and the National Election Commission and attempts to cut power and water to media outlets. He said those responsible should face stricter accountability than the punishment imposed on former Presidents Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo to prevent a repeat of past history.
The special prosecutor’s office described the Dec. 3 declaration as a serious constitutional destruction incident by anti-state forces and said the episode followed the first emergency martial law declaration in 45 years. It argued that strict punishment is necessary given the alleged impact on democratic and rule-of-law principles and the country’s public trust and international standing.
During the hearing, Yoon spoke with his defense team and at times smiled, according to courtroom accounts. He showed a faint smile when prosecutors requested the death penalty.
Yoon’s lawyers rejected the prosecution’s claims. Attorney Kim Hong-il said the martial law declaration was a public appeal to the nation and argued that a presidential message urging citizens to uphold the Constitution cannot constitute an insurrection. He said prosecutors were distorting the intent behind the declaration.
The court is expected to issue a first-instance verdict by mid-February, after closing statements and final arguments conclude, according to the report.
— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI
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