Martial law sees former South Korea leader face death penalty
South Korea’s former president, Yoon Suk Yeol faces a death sentence after imposing martial law in December 2024. An independent council is calling for capital punishment for Yoon on rebellion charges related to the short imposition he made when in office.
Independent counsel Cho Eun-Suk’s team made the request at a hearing on Tuesday 13th January, the Seoul Central District Court said. Yoon faces criminal charges after imposing martial law as well as other scandals from his time in office. A verdict is expected to be delivered by the court in February.
Yoon has maintained that his martial law decree was a desperate and peaceful attempt to raise public awareness of, according to him, the dangers of the liberal opposition Democratic Party. The party, he claimed, used its legislative majority to prevent his agenda and complicate the country’s affairs.
He described the opposition-controlled parliament as “a den of criminals” as well as “anti-state forces.” But lawmakers quickly objected to his imposition, with enough of them, including from Yoon’s ruling party, entering the assembly hall to vote down the measure.
The decree was South Koreas’ first of its kind in over four decades. It saw armed troops enter the streets of the capital, Seoul, surrounding the assembly and entering election offices. For many South Koreans, this was a reminder of the dictatorship of the 1970s and 80s when rulers used martial law and other measures to prevent pro-democracy protests.
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