Prosecutors have asked for South Korea's former president Yoon Suk Yeol to be handed a death sentence if he is found guilty over his botched attempt to impose martial law.
A court in Seoul heard closing arguments in Yoon's trial, where he is accused of being the ringleader of an insurrection.
The charge stems from Yoon's attempt in December 2024 to impose military rule in South Korea—an act that lasted just hours but plunged the country into political turmoil. He was later impeached by parliament and detained to face trial.
Yoon denies the charges against him, claiming that martial law was merely a symbolic gesture aimed at drawing attention to the alleged wrongdoings of the opposition party.
Leading an insurrection, the most serious charge against Yoon, carries sentences of the death penalty or life imprisonment. Under South Korean law, prosecutors had to request either outcome from the judge.
Despite the absence of fatalities during Yoon's martial law attempt, prosecutors argue that his intentions were equally menacing. Closing their arguments, they criticized him for a lust for power aimed at dictatorship and long-term rule, asserting that the insurrection harmed the nation's citizens.
Evidence presented in court included testimony from a military commander who indicated Yoon ordered the arrest of lawmakers during the coup, as well as a memo from a planner suggesting the disposal of hundreds of political figures.
Yoon's trial is combined with those of two other senior figures from his administration, with calls for life imprisonment for one and 20 years for another. Five more defendants are connected to the case.
Yoon has maintained in court that he possessed the authority to declare martial law and claimed to have acted to thwart malign influences threatening the nation.
The court is expected to announce its verdict in February, and while prosecutors' requests often influence outcomes, such sentences are not guaranteed in South Korean courts.
This case represents a significant moment in South Korea's political landscape, as Yoon, 65, became the country's first sitting president to be arrested.
Efforts to solidify support among his followers exist, as Yoon retains backing from right-wing factions who view him as a martyr opposing the ruling Democratic Party.
