South Korea prosecutors seek death penalty for ex-President Yoon

Prosecutors accidental Yoon, who was impeached implicit a failed 2024 martial instrumentality declaration, threatened ‘constitutional order’.

South Korean prosecutors person asked for ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol to look the decease punishment implicit his failed effort to enforce martial instrumentality successful 2024.

Special authoritative Cho Eun-suk’s squad made the petition to the Seoul Central District Court during tribunal connected Tuesday, accusing Yoon of threatening the “liberal antiauthoritarian law order” with his “self-coup”.

“The top victims of the insurrection successful this lawsuit are the radical of this country,” said the prosecutors. “There are nary mitigating circumstances to beryllium considered successful sentencing, and instead, a terrible punishment indispensable beryllium imposed.”

Yoon plunged South Korea into a situation with his martial instrumentality declaration successful December 2024, prompting protesters and lawmakers to swarm parliament to unit a ballot against the measure.

The decree was rapidly declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, and Yoon was subsequently impeached, removed from bureau and jailed.

Yoon’s transgression proceedings for insurrection, maltreatment of power, and different offences linked to the martial declaration ended connected Tuesday aft 11 hours of proceedings.

The tribunal is expected to present a verdict connected the lawsuit connected February 19, according to the Yonhap quality agency.

Yoon says investigations ‘frenzied’

The erstwhile president has denied the charges against him, arguing that helium was acting wrong his authorization to state martial instrumentality successful effect to what helium described arsenic absorption parties’ obstruction of government.

Speaking successful tribunal Tuesday, Yoon criticised investigations into the rebellion charges arsenic “frenzied” and mired successful “manipulation” and “distortion.”

If recovered guilty, Yoon volition go the 3rd South Korean president convicted of insurrection, pursuing 2 ex-military leaders convicted implicit their roles successful the 1979 coup.

But adjacent if Yoon is handed a decease sentence, it is improbable to beryllium implemented, arsenic South Korea has observed an unofficial moratorium connected executions since 1997.

Yoon besides faces respective different trials implicit assorted transgression charges related to the martial instrumentality effort and different scandals during his clip successful office.

A Seoul tribunal is expected to present a verdict connected Friday connected an obstruction of justness case, which could spot Yoon facing 10 years successful prison.

And helium faces a proceedings connected charges of aiding the force implicit allegations helium ordered drone flights implicit North Korea to warrant his martial instrumentality declaration.

The bureau of President Lee Jae Myung, who ‍was elected aft Yoon was removed from office, said successful a connection that it “believes the judiciary volition regularisation … successful accordance with the law, principles, and nationalist standards.”