South Korean prosecutors push for execution of ex-president

A special counsel team renewed its request for the death penalty for former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol during his appellate trial on charges of leading an insurrection through his failed attempt to impose martial law in 2024, Yonhap reports.

The request was made by the team led by special counsel Cho Eun-suk at the Seoul High Court, matching the sentencing recommendation it submitted during Yoon’s first-instance trial. In February, a lower court sentenced the ousted president to life imprisonment on the insurrection charges.

The June 25 hearing marked the resumption of Yoon’s appeal proceedings after a month-long suspension caused by his request for the recusal of the appellate court bench. The request was rejected by the Supreme Court of Korea earlier this month.

At the hearing, the special counsel team argued that the life sentence imposed by the lower court was insufficient and again called for capital punishment.

Prosecutors also challenged the lower court’s decision not to recognize notes written by retired military commander Noh Sang-won as evidence of preparations for the declaration of martial law.

Meanwhile, the special counsel sought a life sentence for former Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who is accused of playing a central role in the alleged insurrection. Kim was sentenced to 30 years in prison in the first-instance ruling.

Yoon is currently facing multiple legal proceedings related to his short-lived declaration of martial law in December 2024.

Earlier this month, a Seoul district court sentenced the former president to 30 years in prison on separate charges of ordering drone incursions into North Korea in an effort to create a pretext for imposing martial law.

By Vafa Guliyeva