South Korea's special prosecutor has petitioned the court to sentence former President Yoon Suk-yeol to death for leading a rebellion by declaring martial law to overthrow the constitution. This marks a historic political case in South Korea. The Seoul court will announce its verdict on 19 February.
On 14 January 2026, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported that the special prosecutor's team filed a petition with the court seeking the death penalty for former President Yoon Suk-yeol over the failed declaration of martial law on 3 December 2024. They argued that this act constituted rebellion and an attempt to seize state power.
The special prosecutor's petition was submitted during the final hearing at the Seoul District Court. It stated that former President Yoon led a rebellion attempting to maintain his own power by controlling the judiciary and legislature, while using state power and armed forces that should serve the public interest.
Assistant Special Prosecutor Park Ok-soo said former President Yoon declared martial law to prolong his hold on power. This act was extremely serious as it involved using the state's physical resources for personal gain. Meanwhile, the court is scheduled to deliver Yoon's verdict on 19 February 2026.
Reports noted that during a closing statement lasting over 90 minutes, Mr. Yoon maintained his innocence, claiming that exercising emergency powers under the constitution could not be considered rebellion. He emphasized that this was not a military dictatorship but an effort to protect freedom, sovereignty, and restore constitutional order. He also criticized the investigation and prosecution as political purges and the use of law to oppress opponents.
Mr. Yoon was charged in January last year with leading a rebellion by declaring martial law without a legal emergency. He was accused of ordering the military and police to surround the parliament to prevent lawmakers from voting to overturn the declaration, as well as ordering the arrest of the parliament speaker and key leaders from both government and opposition parties.
Mr. Yoon became the first South Korean president to be charged and detained while in office. This case has reminded many of former dictator Chun Doo-hwan, who was once sentenced to death for his 1979 coup and the 1980 Gwangju massacre, although his sentence was later reduced.
Source: Yonhap