Yoon Suk Yeol Acquitted on Appeal in Perjury Trial Over Martial Law Cabinet Meeting

Former President Yoon Suk Yeol has been acquitted on appeal in his trial for allegedly committing perjury during the insurrection trial of former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo.

Criminal Division 1 of the Seoul High Court on Wednesday (September 16) found former President Yoon not guilty of perjury, upholding the lower court's ruling.

The special counsel team led by Cho Eun-seok, investigating the insurrection case, had previously demanded a fine of 10 million won.

The court ruled that Yoon's testimony in November last year as a witness in Han's trial—to the effect that he had planned to hold a Cabinet meeting even before Han made the recommendation on the day emergency martial law was declared—cannot be conclusively determined as false testimony contrary to his memory.

At that time, when asked by the bench whether he had thought from the beginning that the necessary members for a Cabinet meeting should be summoned, Yoon responded, "Yes. Since declaring martial law would be announced to the entire world, I naturally knew that a Cabinet meeting was necessary."

The special counsel team argued that Yoon initially summoned only six Cabinet members without intending to hold a Cabinet meeting, but later called six more members, including former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Choi Sang-mok, upon hearing Han's recommendation to meet the quorum for a Cabinet meeting.

Based on this, prosecutors deemed his testimony—that he had intended to assemble the necessary individuals for a Cabinet meeting even before Han's recommendation—as perjury.

However, the appellate court on Wednesday acquitted Yoon, stating that he appeared to have planned to summon additional Cabinet members regardless of Han's recommendation.

The court pointed out that given the defendant's position and career background, it is difficult to believe he was unaware that declaring emergency martial law requires deliberation by the Cabinet, and that he likely sought to satisfy the minimum requirements for declaring martial law.

The court also cited as grounds for its decision that documents to be delivered to former Deputy Prime Minister Choi had already been prepared before his arrival.

Earlier in May, the court of first instance also acquitted Yoon on the same grounds.
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.