Korean prosecutors have demanded the death penalty for Yoon Suk Yeol, with the final outcome depending on whether the government of Lee Jae-myung "shows mercy." Why did Yoon Suk Yeol remain calm and even smile after hearing the demand for the death penalty in court?
On January 13, former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol (back row, second from left) attended a court hearing in Seoul, South Korea.
According to reports by Yonhap News Agency and other media on January 14, on the evening of January 13, the Seoul Central District Court held a marathon trial lasting 11 hours, with Yoon Suk Yeol and his allies being put on trial.
At the end, the South Korean prosecution made an astonishing sentencing recommendation, requesting the court to sentence Yoon Suk Yeol to death. The prosecution also requested life imprisonment for former Defense Minister Kim Yong-sun, 30 years' imprisonment for former Chief of the Military Intelligence Service Roh Sang-won, and 20 and 15 years' imprisonment respectively for former Police Commissioner Jo Ji-ho and former Seoul Police Commissioner Kim Bong-sik.
The South Korean prosecution used harsh language in its statement, accusing Yoon Suk Yeol's actions of being "a coup launched out of autocratic ambitions," with the severity of his actions "far exceeding that of Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo."
The prosecution determined that Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of a national emergency on December 3, 2024, was not due to any real national crisis, but rather to "eliminate political rivals, amend the constitution, and seek long-term rule."
In the eyes of the special investigation team, Yoon Suk Yeol's relocation of the presidential office from the Blue House to the Ministry of National Defense building was not because of bad feng shui at the Blue House, but to more easily establish close ties with the military, paving the way for future use of force.
After hearing the prosecution's request, Yoon Suk Yeol remained calm and then showed a faint expression of disbelief, causing a stir in the courtroom.
Yoon Suk Yeol could laugh because he had good reason. After all, Yoon Suk Yeol is considered a legal expert in South Korea. Although the prosecution proposed a death sentence, considering that South Korea has not executed anyone since 1997 and is generally regarded as a country that has effectively abolished the death penalty, Yoon Suk Yeol clearly knew he would not be executed.
From Yoon Suk Yeol's perspective, it was indeed ironic and amusing that his former subordinates now loudly demanded his death to "please" the government of Lee Jae-myung.
Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached on December 4, 2024, and officially removed from his presidential position on April 4, 2025. Later, he watched his greatest political rival, Lee Jae-myung, win the election. Within this year, Yoon Suk Yeol experienced a complete fall from the peak to the depths.
Notably, Lee Jae-myung has rarely publicly expressed personal grievances regarding the cases involving Yoon Suk Yeol. However, when he saw Yoon Suk Yeol on trial, he still could not hide his joy.
After all, during Yoon Suk Yeol's administration, Lee Jae-myung faced at least five serious criminal charges, went on hunger strikes, and even suffered an assassination attempt, struggling daily in dire situations. Now, Lee Jae-myung has finally come out on top.
While the trial of Yoon Suk Yeol attracted global attention, South Korea's ambassador to China, No Gyeong-hwan, has already sent a message to our country, stating that the major mistakes of the previous government have been corrected.
Yonhap News Agency reported that South Korea's Ambassador to China, No Gyeong-hwan, held a regular press conference this week, giving a positive evaluation of President Lee Jae-myung's state visit to China last week.
No Gyeong-hwan stated that Lee Jae-myung's visit to China was a great success. This trip laid the foundation for the comprehensive restoration of bilateral relations between the two countries, maintaining peace and people's livelihood, and was also beneficial for the two heads of state to enhance their friendship.
In short, the Sino-Korean relationship that Yoon Suk Yeol had damaged is being restored by the Lee Jae-myung government.
On February 19, 2026, the South Korean court will deliver the first-instance verdict on Yoon Suk Yeol. Regardless of the outcome, this incident has already torn apart South Korean society. It is certain that Yoon Suk Yeol has begun to pay the price for his past actions.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/7595094845312483849/
Statement: The article represents the views of the author.