Prosecutors have asked for South Korea's former president Yoon Suk Yeol to be handed a death sentence if he is found guilty over his botched attempt to impose martial law.
A court in Seoul heard closing arguments in Yoon's trial, in which he was accused of being the 'ringleader of an insurrection'.
The charge stems from Yoon's attempt in December 2024 to impose military rule in South Korea - an act that lasted just hours but plunged the country into political turmoil. He was later impeached by parliament and detained to face trial.
Yoon has denied the charges against him, arguing that martial law was a symbolic gesture to draw public attention to the wrongdoings of the opposition party.
Leading an insurrection - the most serious charge against Yoon - carries sentences of the death penalty, or life imprisonment. Under South Korean law, prosecutors must ask the judge for either one sentence or the other.
South Korea has not executed anyone in nearly 30 years. Former military dictator Chun Doo-hwan was given the death penalty for seizing power in a military coup in 1979, though his sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment.
In Yoon's case, although no one was killed during the martial law attempt, prosecutors argue that the intent was inherently violent.
They stated that Yoon had shown a 'lust for power aimed at dictatorship and long-term rule' and emphasized the impact on the populace. Prosecutors included testimonies from military commanders regarding orders to arrest lawmakers and evidence from an internal memo suggesting drastic measures against critics.
The trial includes two other senior figures from Yoon's administration. Prosecutors seek life imprisonment for one and 20 years for another.
Yoon was present for the final legal arguments, maintaining his claim of presidential authority to declare martial law as a defense against perceived threats to national integrity.
Legal proceedings are anticipated to conclude next month, and the court's decision is awaited with bated breath. Notably, sentencing requests by prosecutors do not always align with judicial outcomes in South Korea.
Yoon, detained since his impeachment in April, continues to be a figure of contention, with some right-wing supporters viewing him as a martyr opposing the current liberal administration.
