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South Korean special counsel seeks death sentence for ex-president Yoon
Special counsel renews death penalty demand against Yoon Suk-yeol, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in February over his failed December 2024 martial law bid.
South Korean special counsel seeks death sentence for ex-president Yoon
FILE: Yoon was sentenced to life imprisonment in February for leading an insurrection through his failed martial law bid. /AFP

A special counsel team on Thursday again sought the death penalty for former South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol in his appeal trial on insurrection charges stemming from his failed attempt to impose martial law, local media reported.

The team, led by Special Counsel Cho Eun-suk, requested the sentence at the Seoul High Court, where Yoon is appealing his life imprisonment sentence, Yonhap News Agency reported.

Yoon was sentenced to life imprisonment in February for leading an insurrection through his failed martial law bid in December 2024, which lasted only a few hours before it was blocked and overturned by the National Assembly.

RelatedTRT World - South Korea jails ex-president Yoon for life over failed martial law bid

Prosecutors first sought the death penalty in January of this year.

Yoon faces a total of eight trials in connection with his martial law attempt, his wife's alleged corruption and the 2023 death of a marine officer.

He was formally removed from office in April 2025 after the Constitutional Court unanimously upheld his impeachment over his December 3 2024 martial law declaration, triggering a snap presidential election.​​​​​​​

SOURCE:Anadolu Agency