Seoul seeks death penalty for ex-president over aborted martial-law bid
Prosecutors in Seoul have asked for the death penalty for former President Yoon Suk Yeol over his abortive December 2024 bid to declare martial law, arguing his actions amounted to insurrection even though no one was killed. The case, merged with charges against two other senior figures in his administration, is headed toward a February verdict; if convicted, Yoon faces either death or life imprisonment under Korean law. Yoon contends the martial law was symbolic to draw attention to opposition wrongdoing, and he has been detained since impeachment. Prosecutors cited testimony from a military commander and a memo discussing the potential to “dispose” of hundreds, underscoring the seriousness of the charges in a country that has not carried out an execution in decades.
