Name: South Korean prosecutors demand death penalty for ex-leader Yoon
Uploaded: 2026-01-14T05:06:56.916Z
Duration: 1 min 39 s
Description: South Korean prosecutors called for the death penalty to be handed down to former president Yoon Suk Yeol for his December 2024 declaration of martial law, which plunged the country into chaos. Yoon triggered a political crisis when he announced an end to civilian rule in December 2024 and sent troops to parliament to enforce it.

South Korean prosecutors called for the death penalty to be handed down to former president Yoon Suk Yeol for his December 2024 declaration of martial law, which plunged the country into chaos. Yoon triggered a political crisis when he announced an end to civilian rule in December 2024 and sent troops to parliament to enforce it.

Seoul

Former South Korean president Yoon Suk-yool is facing the death penalty after a special counsel requested the sentence in a Seoul court. The charges stem from Yoon's imposition of martial law on December 3, 2024, which lasted six hours before being overturned by the National Assembly amid widespread protests. 

Yoon was subsequently impeached, removed from office, and arrested, with prosecutors accusing him of conspiring with military leaders, insurrection, corruption, and using drones to provoke North Korea. His wife, Kim Gung-hee, is also on trial for corruption and faces a possible 15-year prison sentence. The court's verdict for Yoon is expected in the coming weeks, though experts note that executions have not occurred in South Korea since 1997.

South Korean prosecutors demand death penalty for ex-leader Yoon

Once embraced by world leaders, the ex-president of South Korea, Yoon Suk-yool, now faces the ultimate punishment. A special counsel has asked a court in Seoul to sentence Yoon to death after he imposed martial law on the country on December 3rd of 2024. The state of martial law only lasted six hours because the South Korean National Assembly quickly voted it down and citizens flooded the streets in protest and clashed with the military. Amid a huge public outcry, Yoon was later impeached, removed from office and arrested with prosecutors claiming he had conspired with military leaders to take over the legislature and to detain his political enemies, accusations he denies. In addition to insurrection charges, Yoon also faces criminal accusations of corruption, trading favors and rebellion. He's also accused of ordering drones to fly over North Korea to provoke Pyongyang as a pretext to declaring martial law. His wife, the former first lady Kim Gung-hee, is also in legal hot water. She's on trial for corruption, accused of bribery and accepting luxury gifts, facing a possible sentence of 15 years in prison and is due to be sentenced later this month. As for Yoon, the court is expected to hand down its verdict in the coming weeks. Experts say even if he's sentenced to death, it's unlikely that he'll be executed. He'll rather spend his life in prison, given that South Korea hasn't carried out an execution since 1997.

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