Ruling bloc says justice served as opposition urges restraint

Jan 15, 2026, 07:57 am

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Former President Yoon Suk Yeol delivers his final statement at the closing hearing on charges of leading an insurrection related to the Dec. 3 martial law declaration at the Seoul Central District Court on Jan. 13. / Courtesy of the Seoul Central District Court

As former President Yoon Suk Yeol faces a request for the maximum statutory penalty—death—over insurrection charges, the political divide has sharpened, with the governing bloc calling the move “justice served,” while the opposition urges focus on managing what it calls a national misfortune.

Following the special counsel’s request for the death penalty, the Democratic Party and the presidential office called on the judiciary to deliver a ruling that meets public expectations. The People Power Party, meanwhile, has largely refrained from issuing an official response.

At a party meeting in Seosan, South Chungcheong Province, Democratic Party leader Jung Cheong-rae said Yoon had shown no remorse, adding that smiling at the moment of sentencing requests amounted to mocking both the public and the courts. He urged the bench to issue a verdict that could “redeem earlier disappointments.”

The presidential office said it expects the judiciary to rule in accordance with the law, principles and public standards. National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik also called for stern punishment to prevent a recurrence of a tragic chapter in history, while the Rebuilding Korea Party said the request reflected the sovereign will to restore the rule of law.

In contrast, the People Power Party has maintained a cautious stance. Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk said only that the court would conduct a fair trial. Lawmaker Shin Dong-wook noted that the prosecution’s request was within expectations, but stressed the need to concentrate on stabilizing the country after what he described as a major national calamity.

Cheon Ha-ram, floor leader of the Reform Party, questioned the impact of the prosecution’s case, suggesting the request for death may have been intended to leave a final impression rather than reflect new findings.

With only the first-instance verdict remaining—scheduled for Feb. 19—the Democratic Party is expected to keep pressing the judiciary while extending the “judgment on insurrection” narrative into the June 3 local elections. Party officials say the issue of democratic accountability will remain central through election day.

The People Power Party faces a more complex calculation. Candidates may be forced to define their distance from Yoon, risking losses among core supporters even as they try to defend ground in the capital region and among moderate voters. A party official said running on individual candidate profiles, rather than a broader political frame, may be the most viable strategy under current conditions.

#Yoon Suk Yeol #insurrection charge #death penalty request #Democratic Party #People Power Party