Yoon faces closing arguments in insurrection trial

Jan 09, 2026, 08:15 am

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Lawmakers including Seo Young-kyo of the Democratic Party hold a press conference at the National Assembly on Jan. 8, urging prosecutors to seek the maximum sentence ahead of the closing arguments in the insurrection case against former President Yoon Suk-yeol. / Yonhap

Closing arguments will be held on Friday in the first-instance trial of former President Yoon Suk-yeol, who stands accused as the ringleader of an insurrection, drawing intense attention to whether prosecutors will seek the death penalty.

The special prosecution team investigating the Dec. 3 martial law episode is expected to announce its sentencing request at the hearing, which is widely seen as the core trial stemming from the emergency decree. The prosecution’s recommendation and the court’s eventual ruling are expected to influence all related cases.

The Criminal Division 25 of the Seoul Central District Court, presided over by Judge Ji Gui-yeon, will open the hearing at around 10 a.m. The session will include the prosecution’s final arguments and sentencing request, defense counsels’ closing statements, and Yoon’s final statement to the court.

Closing arguments will also be held the same day for other key defendants charged with playing major roles in the alleged insurrection, including former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, former military intelligence chief Noh Sang-won, and former National Police Agency chief Cho Ji-ho. With eight defendants in total, proceedings are expected to continue late into the evening.

If Yoon is found guilty of leading an insurrection, the statutory penalties are limited to three options: death, life imprisonment, or life imprisonment without hard labor. Should prosecutors seek the death penalty, Yoon would become only the second South Korean president to face such a demand, following former President Chun Doo-hwan.

In the 1990s, prosecutors sought the death penalty for Chun for charges related to the Dec. 12 military coup and the May 18 Gwangju uprising, while requesting life imprisonment for former President Roh Tae-woo. The trial court sentenced Chun to death and Roh to 22 years and six months in prison.

Ironically, during his university years, Yoon once presided over a mock trial in which he sought life imprisonment for Chun. Now, as a former president standing trial himself, Yoon faces the prospect of a life sentence—or worse—as the court prepares to hear final arguments in one of the most consequential cases in recent South Korean history.

#Yoon Suk-yeol #insurrection charges #special prosecutor #closing arguments #martial law