Snapshot 7:Wed, Jan 14, 2026 10:08:03 PM GMT last edited by Anna-Lisa

South Korea Seeks Death Penalty for Ex-President Yoon

Is the death penalty for Yoon necessary accountability for attacking democracy, or cruel political revenge?

Published JAN 14·Updated 7 days ago

South Korea Seeks Death Penalty for Ex-President Yoon

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Above: A Yoon Suk Yeol supporter holds up his picture in front of the Seoul Central District Court on Jan. 9. Image credit: Jung Yeon-je/AFP/Getty Images

The Spin

Yoon's martial law declaration was a calculated attempt to establish a dictatorship and seize total state power, making it a constitutional crime that demands harsher punishment than past military coups to prevent future attacks on democracy. The death penalty is necessary because elite officials who violate the constitutional order pose an ongoing threat that must be met with the strictest accountability.

The Korea Times Korea Herald

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East Asia Research Center Korea Herald

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Amnesty International USA

Paul Sungwon Kim on X

Metaculus Prediction

There's a 1% chance that former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol will be convicted of any criminal charges before Jan. 16, 2026, according to the Metaculus prediction community.