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Special prosecution investigators have asked for the death penalty for former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol at the appeal hearing against his life sentence, Yonhap reported. A lower court had convicted Yoon of leading an insurrection over his martial law declaration.

The team led by special investigation prosecutor Cho Ehun-suk argued that the life term handed down by the lower court was too lenient and that the fact the country has not carried out executions for years should not stand in the way of a death sentence.

Prosecution arguments at the appeal hearing

At the hearing on Yoon's appeal, a member of the prosecution team said there was no reason to hesitate over imposing the death penalty. "The strongest argument against capital punishment is the possibility of an erroneous verdict. In this case, there is no room for such a possibility," the member said.

The same member noted that Yoon had sworn an oath to uphold the constitution yet still sent troops into the streets. "This is an unforgivable crime that destroyed the constitutional order and tried to take the country back 40 years," the member said. The prosecution team added that the country's practical non-use of capital punishment should not prevent it from being imposed here.

Yoon's martial law declaration and impeachment

Then-President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law on December 3, 2024, citing the opposition's alleged involvement in anti-state activities, but had to back down after the National Assembly voted to lift the measure.

The National Assembly voted to impeach Yoon on December 14, 2024, suspending him from office. On April 4, 2025, the Constitutional Court accepted the impeachment and confirmed his removal. In February, Yoon was found guilty of leading an insurrection over the December 2024 martial law declaration and sentenced to life in prison.

Death penalty status in South Korea

Amnesty International places South Korea in the category of countries that have abolished the death penalty in practice, since no execution has been carried out in the country since December 1997.

Under South Korean criminal law, the ringleader of an insurrection can face one of three penalties: death, life imprisonment, or life imprisonment without hard labor. In January, the special prosecutors described Yoon as "the ringleader of an insurrection who tried to hold on to power by seizing the judiciary and the legislature" and also sought the death penalty then.

Key takeaways

• Special prosecutors asked for the death penalty for former President Yoon Suk Yeol at his appeal hearing, Yonhap reported.
• They argued the lower court's life sentence was too light and that the country's lack of executions should not bar capital punishment.
• Yoon was removed from office after declaring martial law on December 3, 2024, and was later convicted of leading an insurrection.
• No execution has been carried out in South Korea since December 1997, and Amnesty International treats the country as abolitionist in practice.