South Korea Prosecutors Seek Death Penalty for Former President Yoon Suk Yeol

South Korean state prosecutors have formally demanded the death penalty for former President Yoon Suk Yeol, alleging that he orchestrated an insurrection and sought to destroy the country's democratic constitution. The trial, which centers on Yoon's imposition of martial law in December 2024, has highlighted deep divisions within South Korea.

Yoon, who succeeded Lee Jae Myung as president, has denied the charges, claiming he acted within his presidential duties to protect democracy. The prosecution argues that Yoon's actions were part of a deliberate plot against the state, echoing a historic trial in 1990 involving former military dictators Chun Doo Hwan and Roh Tae Woo.

The final verdict is expected on February 19, with the prosecution painting Yoon as an unrepentant architect of constitutional destruction.