South Korean special counsel prosecutors have again sought the death penalty for former President Yoon Suk Yeol over his failed attempt to impose martial law in December 2024, local media reported on Thursday.
The team, led by Special Counsel Cho Eun-suk, requested the sentence during Yoon’s appeal proceedings at the Seoul High Court, where the former president is challenging his life imprisonment sentence, Yonhap News Agency reported.
Yoon was sentenced to life imprisonment in February after a lower court found him guilty of leading an insurrection through his short-lived martial law declaration.
Failed Martial Law Bid Led to Insurrection Conviction
Yoon declared martial law on December 3, 2024, in a move that plunged South Korea into a major political crisis.
The declaration lasted only a few hours before lawmakers in the National Assembly moved to block it and reverse the measure.
The failed attempt triggered widespread political opposition and legal proceedings against the president, ultimately leading to his impeachment and removal from office.
Prosecutors first sought the death penalty against Yoon in January, arguing for the maximum punishment in connection with the insurrection charges.
The latest request comes as the appeal court considers his challenge to the life sentence imposed by the lower court.
Yoon Removed From Office in April 2025
Yoon was formally removed from office in April 2025 after South Korea’s Constitutional Court unanimously upheld his impeachment over the martial law declaration.
His removal triggered a snap presidential election to choose his successor.
The former president has rejected the accusations against him and previously described the lower court’s ruling as politically motivated.
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In February, a day after receiving his life sentence, Yoon apologised for the frustration and hardship caused by his martial law decree but defended the intentions behind his decision.
In a statement released through his lawyers, he said he regretted the impact on the public while maintaining that he stood by the sincerity and purpose of his actions.
He also described the court’s verdict as predetermined and characterised the proceedings as political retaliation.
Multiple Legal Cases Against Former President
Yoon faces a total of eight trials linked to various allegations and investigations, including his martial law attempt, alleged corruption involving his wife and the 2023 death of a marine officer.
The cases have kept South Korea’s political and judicial institutions under close scrutiny as authorities pursue proceedings against the former head of state.
The appeal court’s decision will determine whether Yoon’s life sentence stands or whether his punishment is changed. The special counsel’s renewed request for the death penalty places the severity of the sentence at the centre of the ongoing proceedings.
