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2026-02-19 09:37:50
[Yoon Seok-youl to be sentenced today in first instance for sedition; prosecution had previously requested the death penalty] A South Korean court will deliver its first-instance verdict today (February 19) in the case of former President Yoon Seok-youl, who is accused of sedition. On February 13, the special prosecutor's team investigating the martial law incident requested the death penalty for Yoon Seok-youl on charges of instigating a civil unrest. The prosecution argued that Yoon Seok-youl abused his presidential position and power to organize crimes. His declaration of martial law in December 2024 was aimed at eliminating political opposition to achieve a monopoly and long-term hold on power, seeking dictatorship and long-term rule. Driven entirely by personal power aspirations, he mobilized military and police resources that should have served only the interests of the nation and the collective, making his crimes extremely heinous. His purpose, methods, and implementation constitute anti-national acts as defined by the National Security Law. Under South Korean law, leaders of civil unrest can be sentenced to death or life imprisonment. The prosecution stated that although South Korea is internationally considered a country that has "effectively abolished the death penalty," it can still be used in sentencing. (CCTV)
