Politics

South Korean prosecutors have requested the death penalty for former president Yoon Suk Yeol due to his declaration of martial law in December 2024, which caused significant turmoil in the country. Yoon created a political crisis when he announced the end of civilian governance and deployed troops to parliament for enforcement. His efforts were unsuccessful, leading him to become the first sitting president in South Korea to be arrested, which happened last January. Yoon's criminal trial, focused on charges of insurrection, abuse of power, and other related offenses, concluded on Tuesday after 11 hours of hearings. In their final statements, prosecutors labeled him as the leader of an insurrection driven by a desire for dictatorship and prolonged power. They stated that he showed no regret for actions that jeopardized democracy and the constitutional order. "The people of this country are the primary victims of this insurrection," they declared. They insisted that there are no circumstances that would lessen his punishment, advocating instead for a harsh sentence. Yoon's defense team has presented dramatic arguments to support him and his co-defendants.