Final Hearing Resumes in Yoon Insurrection Trial, Death Penalty Still on Table
Updated (2 articles)
Final hearing reconvenes after extensive paper‑evidence review On 13 January 2026 the Seoul Central District Court resumed the trial’s final hearing, which had been paused for eight hours while lawyers examined voluminous documents [1]. The session continued the presentation of paper evidence and prepared the ground for closing arguments from both prosecution and defense. All eight defendants, including former president Yoon Suk‑yeol, remained present for the proceedings.
Prosecutors poised to seek the harshest punishments The special counsel team is expected to ask the court for one of three penalties for Yoon as the alleged ringleader: the death penalty, life imprisonment, or life imprisonment without forced labor [1][2]. This request follows a pattern of severe sentencing recommendations in South Korea’s past political‑crisis trials. Prosecutors argue that Yoon’s actions constitute a grave attempt to subvert the constitutional order.
Charges revolve around the 3 December 2024 martial‑law decree Yoon was indicted in January 2025 for insurrection tied to his declaration of martial law on 3 December 2024, which allegedly mobilized troops and police to seal off the National Assembly and detain key legislators [1][2]. He became the first sitting president to face physical detention, was released in March after a court cancelled his arrest, and was re‑arrested in July on additional martial‑law‑related charges. Co‑defendants include former defense minister Cho Ji‑ho and former police chief Cho Eun‑suk.
Court aims to deliver a ruling in early February After the sentencing request was postponed on 9 January 2026, judges scheduled a new session for the following Tuesday to hear the special counsel’s recommendation and Yoon’s final statement [2]. Legal analysts expect the court’s decision, which will determine whether the death penalty or life imprisonment is imposed, to be issued in early February 2026 [1]. The timing reflects the court’s effort to conclude the high‑profile case before the summer legislative calendar.
Sources
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1.
Yonhap: Final hearing in Yoon insurrection case advances with possible death penalty: Details the resumed hearing, extensive paper‑evidence review, and the prosecution’s likely request for death or life sentences, while placing the trial in historical context of past coups .
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2.
Yonhap: Court postpones sentencing hearing for ex-President Yoon to next Tuesday: Reports the postponement of the sentencing phase, extended closing arguments, and the expectation of a February sentencing date, emphasizing procedural delays .
Timeline
Dec 3, 2024 – Yoon Suk‑yeol declares martial law, mobilizes troops and police to seal off the National Assembly, prevents votes on his decree, and orders arrests of key figures, actions that later form the basis of the insurrection charge[1].
Jan 2025 – Prosecutors indict Yoon on insurrection for the December 3 martial law declaration, making him the first sitting South Korean president ever physically detained in such a case[1].
Mar 2025 – A court cancels Yoon’s arrest, releasing him from detention after his initial indictment[1].
Jul 2025 – Authorities re‑arrest Yoon on additional martial‑law‑related charges, returning him to custody[1].
1996 – Former President Chun Doo‑hwan faces insurrection charges with a death‑penalty recommendation for his 1979 coup and the violent suppression of the Gwangju movement, providing historical precedent for severe penalties in political crises[1].
1997 – South Korea becomes abolitionist in practice, with no executions carried out since that year, shaping the contemporary debate over a possible death sentence for Yoon[1].
Jan 9, 2026 – The Seoul Central District Court postpones the sentencing hearing to the following Tuesday, extending the trial timeline and signaling a likely February sentencing date[2].
Jan 13, 2026 – The final hearing resumes after an eight‑hour paper‑evidence review; the court moves toward closing arguments and the special counsel’s sentencing recommendations for all eight defendants[1].
Jan 14, 2026 – The court is scheduled to hear special counsel Cho Eun‑suk’s sentencing request and Yoon’s final statement, marking the next procedural step in the trial[2].
Early Feb 2026 – Legal sources anticipate the court will issue its ruling on Yoon and the co‑defendants, delivering the official sentence recommendation after the closing phase[1].