Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol could face the death penalty after prosecutors requested the punishment in his criminal case on Tuesday.
Yoon is facing insurrection charges after he briefly declared martial law in South Korea just over a year ago.
The prosecution’s request for the death penalty will be reviewed by a panel of judges. A verdict is expected in the coming weeks.
If not the death penalty, Yoon could face life in prison, with or without prison labor, for his actions in December 2024.
At the time, Yoon declared martial law to protect South Korea from “pro-North Korean anti-state forces” and a “legislative dictatorship” led by the country’s National Assembly. The declaration of emergency powers was very short-lived, only lasting about six hours.
The controversial move led to his impeachment, resulting in his removal from office last April. He was succeeded by Lee Jae Myung, who belonged to the opposite political party of the former president. The impeached leader has been in prison since July 2025.
Yoon faces multiple criminal trials over the martial law debacle. Given the possibility of the death penalty, the insurrection charges are considered to be the most serious.
If the judicial panel approves the death penalty in this case, Yoon could appeal the decision all the way to South Korea’s Supreme Court. It remains to be seen what the judges decide.