South Korea’s special prosecutor is expected to make a sentencing request for former President Yoon Suk Yeol on charges of insurrection, Reuters reports, following a brief but controversial attempt to impose martial law in 2024. The trial’s final session convened on Friday at Seoul Central District Court, capping more than a year of political upheaval stemming from Yoon’s short-lived power grab.
Yoon, 65, is accused of masterminding a scheme with then-Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun to suspend parliament and assume legislative authority. Prosecutors allege the plan, which began as early as October 2023, included labeling political opponents such as former opposition leader Lee Jae Myung as “anti-state forces” and detaining them. The prosecution also claims that Yoon and Kim attempted to manufacture a pretext for martial law by escalating tensions with North Korea through a covert drone operation.
The attempted imposition of martial law lasted roughly six hours but sent shockwaves across South Korea, a key U.S. ally and one of Asia’s most resilient democracies. Yoon maintains that his actions were within presidential powers and aimed at highlighting obstruction by opposition parties, and he has denied all charges.
Dressed in a dark suit and appearing noticeably thinner than at the start of the trial in February, Yoon sat alongside seven other defendants, including Kim, as legal counsel presented defense arguments. The court heard final arguments from prosecutors before sentencing requests were submitted for each defendant.
Under South Korean law, Yoon could face the death penalty or life imprisonment if convicted. While the country has not executed a death-row inmate since 1997 and has followed an unofficial moratorium for nearly three decades, the severity of the charges underscores the gravity of the alleged insurrection.
Yoon was later impeached and removed from office by the Constitutional Court. A snap presidential election in June 2025 resulted in the victory of liberal-leaning Lee Jae Myung, who now holds the office that Yoon once occupied.
The court is expected to issue its ruling in February, bringing a close to the trial that has captivated the nation and heightened regional attention on South Korea’s democratic institutions. Yoon faces additional criminal charges, including obstructing the execution of an arrest warrant and abuse of power, which could carry further legal consequences.
