Prosecutors Demand Death Penalty for Ousted S. Korean Leader
During Tuesday's closing statements at the Seoul Central District Court, the special prosecutor branded Yoon, 65, as the "ringleader of an insurrection," referencing investigative findings that purportedly reveal a conspiracy orchestrated since 2023 to commandeer governmental operations.
Yoon has rejected all accusations, contending his presidential authority permitted the martial law announcement amid parliamentary deadlock and what he described as a "rebellion" allegedly coordinated by pro-Pyongyang elements embedded within opposition ranks.
The December 2024 emergency martial law proclamation ignited instant mass demonstrations and was nullified by legislators within 24 hours.
The unprecedented move—South Korea's first martial law invocation since 1980—thrust the nation into constitutional turmoil as hundreds of armed soldiers were temporarily mobilized and sent to critical government sites, including the National Assembly, seemingly to prevent parliamentary function and obstruct lawmakers from gathering. Critics condemned the action as a perilous expansion of executive authority, prompting the National Assembly to vote unanimously for revocation, compelling Yoon to rescind the order after approximately six hours.
The episode ignited widespread protests and resignation demands from opposition figures, triggering political upheaval that culminated in a successful impeachment effort later that month.
Yoon was detained in January 2025 and officially stripped of office by the Constitutional Court in April. He became the first incumbent South Korean president to be arrested and prosecuted on criminal grounds while serving.
Though South Korean statutes permit the death penalty for insurrection, Seoul has not executed anyone since 1997. Legal analysts consider a life sentence the more probable outcome for Yoon.
The court is anticipated to announce its ruling in February.
Yoon's removal triggered a snap presidential election captured by his opponent, Lee Jae-myung, whose government has pursued normalization with North Korea. This strategy has involved suspending propaganda transmissions at the border, representing a dramatic departure from Yoon's confrontational approach.
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