Special Prosecutor
Appears in 2 stories
Special Prosecutor - Leading prosecution team
South Korea has not executed anyone in 28 years. Yet on January 13, 2026, prosecutors asked a Seoul court to sentence former President Yoon Suk Yeol to death. Three days later, a different court convicted him on obstruction of justice charges, handing down a five-year prison sentence—the first of eight criminal verdicts stemming from his six-hour martial law declaration on December 3, 2024. Yoon is the first South Korean president to face execution since military strongman Chun Doo-hwan in 1996, and the first to be criminally sentenced while the country's democratic institutions remain intact.
Updated Jan 20
Special prosecutor / Independent counsel leading the martial-law investigation - Directing continuing prosecutions and additional indictments tied to the plot
South Korea just made the quiet part of the 2024 martial-law crisis unmistakably loud: the country’s top police officer is out for good. On December 18, 2025, the Constitutional Court removed National Police Agency chief Cho Ji-ho, ruling he helped former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s power grab by using police to block lawmakers from reaching the National Assembly floor.
Updated Dec 18, 2025
No stories match your search
Try a different keyword
The week's most important stories, delivered every Monday. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
How would you like to describe your experience with the app today?
