South Korean prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for former President Yoon Suk-yeol over his failed attempt to impose military rule.

The demand was renewed at an appeal hearing at the Seoul High Court on Thursday by a team led by special prosecutor Cho Eun-suk, who argued that Yoon's actions threatened South Korea's democracy.

Yoon was sentenced to life imprisonment in February after being convicted of leading an insurrection. Prosecutors had previously sought the death penalty at his original trial in January, but the court imposed a life sentence the following month.

At Thursday's hearing, a prosecutor said there was "no reason to hesitate" over imposing the death penalty, according to reports.

Prosecutors also argued that South Korea's long pause in executions should not prevent judges from sentencing Yoon to death. The country retains capital punishment but has not carried out an execution since 1997.

Yoon declared martial law on December 3, 2024, deploying soldiers and police to the National Assembly, South Korea's parliament. Lawmakers overcame a security blockade to vote down the measure, forcing the government to withdraw it approximately six hours after it was announced.

The lower court found that Yoon had attempted to stop parliament from functioning, detain political opponents, and maintain control of the country for an extended period.

Yoon's lawyers told reporters on Thursday that he had intended to warn an opposition-controlled parliament against what he considered attempts to obstruct his government, not to establish authoritarian rule. Speaking at the Seoul High Court on October 27, Yoon also denied seeking to establish a long-term dictatorship.

The crisis prompted parliament to impeach Yoon in December 2024. South Korea's Constitutional Court subsequently removed him from office in April 2025.

The appeals court has scheduled two more hearings, including Yoon's final statement on November 5.