Special prosecutor seeks death penalty for former President Yoon Suk Yeol

13 Jan 2026, 20:24 by K-Soul · allkpop

The special counsel team led by Cho Eun Seok on January 13 formally sought the death penalty for former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who is charged as the ringleader of an insurrection. The prosecution also requested life imprisonment for former Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun, accused of playing a key operational role, and a 20-year prison sentence for former National Police Agency Commissioner Cho Ji Ho.

Addressing the court, Yoon Suk Yeol defended his December 3 declaration of martial law, stating it was “an appeal for the sovereign people to take an interest in politics and state affairs, and to monitor and check the ruinous abuses threatening the nation.”

Special Prosecutor Park Eok Soo, who delivered the sentencing request against Yoon, argued that “to prevent the repetition of tragic history, a punishment even more severe than those imposed on Chun Doo Hwan and Roh Tae Woo is required.” He added, “Given that there are absolutely no mitigating factors to consider, it is necessary to carefully assess whether seeking life imprisonment alone would align with sentencing principles.” Park concluded, “As the minimum statutory punishment would be inadequate, we are seeking the death penalty.”

As the death sentence was requested, Yoon reportedly displayed a faint smile, briefly looking around the courtroom. Laughter erupted from the gallery, and several of Yoon’s supporters hurled profanities and jeers at the prosecutor, prompting the presiding judge, Ji Gwi Yeon, to immediately intervene.

In his final statement, Yoon personally addressed the court, reiterating that his declaration of martial law was made “as president, entrusted with the grave responsibility of safeguarding the Republic of Korea’s independence, continuity of the state, and the Constitution.” He said his intent was to inform the people of a national emergency and urge them to join in overcoming it, claiming that unconstitutional “legislative dictatorship” had led to a collapse of constitutional order. Rejecting the special counsel’s characterization of the case as a “palace coup aimed at laying the groundwork for long-term dictatorship,” Yoon called it “a delusion and a work of fiction that contradicts objective facts and basic legal common sense.” He added that, unlike past eras, “if a president today dissolved the National Assembly and forced through a constitutional revision by referendum, who among the public would comply?”

Regarding former Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun, the prosecution stated that he “moved as one body with former President Yoon” and “commanded and coordinated the overall insurrectionary actions that undermined the constitutional order.” The special counsel noted that Kim showed neither remorse nor apology for his role in an insurrection that caused enormous damage, justifying the request for life imprisonment.

As for former Police Commissioner Cho Ji Ho, prosecutors said he “completely blocked lawmakers and others from entering the National Assembly and facilitated the entry of armed soldiers, thereby neutralizing the Assembly’s authority to demand the lifting of martial law—one of the most powerful institutional checks on abuse of presidential power.” They further alleged that Cho supported requests from the Defense Counterintelligence Command to assist in the illegal arrest of the National Assembly Speaker and leaders of both ruling and opposition parties. The prosecution emphasized that Cho participated in “all core acts of violence that determined the success or failure of this insurrection.”

The special counsel also sought a 30-year prison sentence for former Intelligence Command chief Noh Sang Won, accused of attempting to form a “second investigative task force” to probe alleged election fraud. Prosecutors said Noh’s level of involvement and influence far exceeded that of other accomplices, noting that even after the National Assembly passed a resolution demanding the lifting of martial law, former President Yoon discussed response measures with Noh in Kim Yong Hyun’s presence.

A 10-year sentence was requested for retired Army Colonel Kim Yong Gun, accused of handing over a list of military police personnel to Noh. Former Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Commissioner Kim Bong Sik, charged with relaying plans to control the National Assembly and participating in its blockade after meeting Yoon and Kim on the day martial law was declared, faces a 15-year sentence. Prosecutors also sought 12 years for Mok Hyun Tae, former head of the National Assembly Security Unit, and 10 years for Yoon Seung Young, former director of planning and coordination at the National Police Agency’s National Investigation Headquarters.

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