South Korean prosecutors have requested the death penalty for former president Yoon Suk Yeol on charges of insurrection over his brief imposition of martial law in December 2024.
Mr Yoon was accused of plotting with senior aides to provoke an armed aggression from North Korea, justifying the decision and consolidating his power amid weakening support.
He has consistently rejected the accusations and insisted that the declaration was within his presidential authority.
In closing arguments at the Seoul Central District Court, prosecutors said that investigators had confirmed the existence of a scheme allegedly directed by Mr Yoon and his former defence minister, Kim Yong Hyun, dating back to October 2023, designed to keep Mr Yoon in power.
The former president was impeached by the National Assembly over the short-lived declaration and arrested on 15 January last year, becoming the first sitting South Korean president to suffer such a fate.
Mr Yoon and his five cabinet ministers were among 24 people charged with offences related to insurrection following a six-month inquiry into the allegations. The charges carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment or death.
Investigators had previously accused Mr Yoon and military leaders of authorising covert drone flights into North Korea to inflame tensions as part of a coordinated strategy.
When the plan failed to spark a confrontation, prosecutors said, the president charged ahead with declaring martial law anyway, dubbing political opponents – including the then head of his own People Power Party – as “anti-state forces”.
Within hours, legislators and lawmakers – including from his own party – sought to block the order with thousands taking to the streets of Seoul to protest.
Mr Yoon narrowly won the presidency in 2022 and had been facing mounting unpopularity since taking office, with approval ratings plummeting to 17 per cent before the events that triggered his decision to impose martial law.
“We know well from historic experience that the justification given by those in power for a coup is only a facade and the sole purpose is to monopolise and maintain power,” special prosecutor Cho Eun Seok told reporters last month.
“To create justification for declaring martial law, they tried to lure North Korea into mounting an armed aggression, but failed as North Korea did not respond militarily,” he added.
Mr Yoon’s wife, Kim Keon Hee, remains under a separate investigation by another special prosecutor over alleged corruption tied to activities before and during his presidency – prosecutors have said there is no evidence to link Ms Kim to the alleged conspiracy.
The former president has argued that his move to impose martial law was intended to warn against what he believed was the opposition’s abuse of parliamentary power.
The Seoul Central District Court is expected to rule on the case in February.
South Korea says it has no intention to provoke North Korea
South Korea denies flying drones across border as North warns of ‘consequences’
Creator of South Korea’s hugely popular sweet-and-spicy fried chicken dies aged 74
South Korean leader compares himself and Kim Jong Un to ‘penguins’
South Korean president grins in selfies with China’s Xi as part of charm offensive
Mathematician finally solves moving sofa problem popularised by Friends ‘pivot’ scene
