Post by : Meena Ariff

South Korea’s special prosecutor is preparing to request a sentence against former president Yoon Suk Yeol, who is facing serious charges of insurrection linked to his short-lived declaration of martial law in late 2024. The move comes as a lower court in Seoul convened its final hearing on Friday, marking a crucial stage in one of the country’s most dramatic political trials in decades.

Yoon, 65, stands accused of orchestrating an insurrection by attempting to suspend democratic institutions and seize extraordinary powers through the imposition of martial law. If convicted, he could face life imprisonment or even the death penalty under South Korean law. Although capital punishment remains on the books, the country has not carried out an execution since 1997, effectively maintaining an unofficial moratorium for nearly three decades.

During proceedings at the Seoul Central District Court, prosecutors argued that Yoon and his former defence minister, Kim Yong-hyun, had been planning the move months in advance. According to the prosecution, discussions about sidelining parliament and taking control of legislative authority began as early as October 2023. The alleged plan included portraying political rivals as threats to the state and justifying extraordinary measures in the name of national security.

Prosecutors further claimed that Yoon intended to label key opposition figures, including then-opposition leader Lee Jae Myung, as “anti-state forces” and sought their detention during the proposed emergency rule. In a particularly explosive allegation, the prosecution said the former president and his aides attempted to create a justification for martial law by deliberately escalating tensions with North Korea through a covert drone-related operation.

Although the martial law order was in effect for only around six hours, its impact was immense. The episode rattled South Korea’s financial markets, alarmed international allies, and sparked widespread concern about the stability of one of Asia’s most established democracies. Lawmakers ultimately forced the reversal by breaking through security barriers at the National Assembly and voting to revoke the declaration.

Yoon has consistently denied all charges, arguing that the constitution granted him the authority to declare martial law. He has maintained that his decision was meant as a warning against what he described as persistent obstruction by opposition parties, rather than an attempt to overthrow democratic governance.

At Friday’s hearing, Yoon appeared visibly thinner than earlier in the trial, dressed in a dark suit and seated alongside several co-defendants, including Kim Yong-hyun. The session focused on final arguments from both defence lawyers and prosecutors, with sentencing requests expected to follow.

The court is scheduled to deliver its verdict in February. The ruling is expected to close a turbulent chapter that began with Yoon’s removal from office following impeachment and culminated in a snap election that brought Lee Jae Myung to power. Beyond this case, Yoon continues to face additional charges, including abuse of power and obstructing the execution of an arrest warrant.

#Global News