South Korea Seeks Death Penalty for Ex-President After Coup Attempt

In South Korea, the prosecution has officially reiterated its demand for the death penalty for former President Yoon Seok-yeol following the coup attempt in December 2024. Led by Special Prosecutor Cho Eun-seok, the prosecution team argued that the life imprisonment sentence given to the former leader by the lower court was 'too lenient' considering the severity of the crime. The Seoul High Court heard the appeal, with not only the former leader but also the military being tried. Prosecutors also requested that the sentence for former South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who was given 30 years in prison in February for participating in the coup attempt, be increased to life imprisonment. On the night of December 3, 2024, President Yoon Seok-yeol declared martial law, mobilizing the army and police forces. Although military forces surrounding the National Assembly building tried to prevent lawmakers from entering, the siege was lifted due to the resistance of civilians and politicians. The parliament then made a decision to lift the martial law in an emergency general assembly.