Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is due to learn the result of his insurrection appeal Jan. 26, 2027, after prosecutors asked the Seoul High Court to impose the death penalty.
The Korea Herald reported Nov. 5 that the court announced the date after prosecutors and defendants presented their final statements at the appeals trial’s last hearing. EconoTimes previously covered the prosecution’s request for a death sentence on appeal.
Yoon received a life sentence in the first-instance ruling on Feb. 19. Special Counsel Cho Eun-suk’s team sought capital punishment on appeal, saying the lower court’s sentence was insufficient.
Yoon has maintained his innocence and argued that his Dec. 3, 2024, emergency martial law declaration fell within his constitutional authority. He said the Democratic Party of Korea, then the main opposition, had disrupted government functions by pursuing impeachments of officials. He described his action as an effort to alert the public to what he saw as a crisis in government and the constitutional order.
Yoon faces a charge of leading an insurrection through the declaration. Also accused of taking part in the martial law imposition are Kim Yong-hyun, a former defense minister; Noh Sang-won, a retired military intelligence commander; Cho Ji-ho, who formerly led the National Police Agency; and Kim Bong-sik, who formerly led the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency. The Constitutional Court determined that the imposition was unconstitutional and illegal.
Prosecutors also requested a life sentence for Kim Yong-hyun, 30 years for Noh Sang-won, 20 years for Cho Ji-ho and 15 years for Kim Bong-sik. At the final hearing, Kim Yong-hyun defended the declaration, while Noh said he had no regrets about his role. Cho Ji-ho said he regretted not opposing the orders, and Kim Bong-sik said he felt responsible for failing to protect public safety and democratic order. The court is scheduled to deliver its ruling at 12:30 a.m. ET Jan. 26 (2:30 p.m. Korea Standard Time).
