Special prosecutors in South Korea have issued a historic request for the death penalty against former President Yoon Suk Yeol, accusing him of orchestrating a covert plan to impose martial law in the final months of his administration. The demand was presented during closing arguments at the Seoul Central District Court on Tuesday.
Prosecutors, led by independent counsel Lee Jae Myung, argued that Yoon sought to maintain power by subverting the constitution through a classified contingency operation known as “Operation Chain.” According to the prosecution, the plan involved deploying military police units, declaring a national emergency, and sidelining the Constitutional Court to halt mass protests demanding his resignation.
Internal briefings, written documents, and testimony from former government and military officials were shown in court as key evidence. Prosecutors described the alleged scheme as a “severe betrayal of public trust” and claimed it constituted treason intended to reshape the political order for personal survival.
Yoon’s legal team rejected the accusation outright, labeling the case a politically motivated attack and arguing that capital punishment violates constitutional protections. The defense characterized the prosecution’s arguments as speculative and unsupported by law.
The verdict is expected within weeks, and the trial has gripped the nation due to its unprecedented nature. If upheld, it would mark the first instance in modern South Korean history in which a former head of state faces a potential death sentence. Yoon served as president from 2022 to 2026, leaving office amid deep political polarization.
“Tensions Rise in Washington as Trump Pushes Greenland Acquisition Proposal” – the full story is intense and unfolding fast, make sure to read this blog for all details.
