SEOUL: In an unprecedented legal move, South Korean prosecutors have demanded the death penalty for former President Yoon Seok-yeol for his role in a failed attempt to impose martial law in December 2024. During closing arguments at the Seoul Central District Court, prosecutors labeled Yoon the “ringleader of the coup.”
Prosecutors argued that while the attempt to declare martial law was thwarted within hours and did not result in any loss of life, it was an act of extreme violence that plunged the nation into a severe political crisis. They stated that due to the gravity of the crime against the constitutional order, the court should sentence Yoon to death, or at least life imprisonment, if convicted.
Yoon was removed from office via impeachment by the National Assembly following the failed power grab and was subsequently arrested. The trial marks one of the most sensational cases in South Korean history, placing a former head of state on trial for attempting to subvert the democratic system.
The prosecution emphasized that the former president’s intentions were “extremely dangerous,” justifying the call for the ultimate punishment under the nation’s criminal code. The court is now expected to deliberate before issuing a verdict and sentencing.
Meanwhile US President Donald Trump has called for intensified protests in Iran and announced the cancellation of all meetings with Iranian officials. Trump made the announcement on his social media platform, Truth Social, writing: “Make Iran Great Again. I have canceled all meetings with Iranian officials.” He directly addressed protesters, stating, “help is on the way,” and urged them to “take control of the institutions.”
The move comes as the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the establishment of a new Air and Missile Defense Cell at the Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar. The newly inaugurated Joint Defense Operations Cell for the Middle East is designed to strengthen regional military coordination and significantly improve air and missile defense capabilities among US allies.
