Former President Yoon Suk Yeol Faces New Perjury Charges in Martial Law Trial Testimony

Former President Yoon Suk Yeol Indicted on Perjury Charges in Martial Law Case

Seoul, South Korea – Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is facing additional legal challenges as a special counsel team announced Thursday that he has been indicted on charges of perjury. This new indictment stems from testimony he provided during the insurrection trial of former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo.

Background of the Charges

Yoon Suk Yeol is already embroiled in a complex legal battle, standing trial on charges of insurrection and other offenses related to his failed attempt to impose martial law last December. The latest accusation centers on his testimony regarding the Cabinet meeting convened prior to the martial law declaration.

According to the special counsel, Yoon is suspected of creating a misleading impression that the Cabinet meeting, which preceded his martial law declaration, was a pre-planned event, even before Prime Minister Han Duck-soo had suggested its necessity. Assistant special counsel Park Ji-young confirmed the charges in a press briefing, stating, "We filed charges of perjury over the testimony given by former President Yoon during former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo's trial."

Witness Testimony Under Scrutiny

During Han's trial last month, Yoon appeared as a witness and was questioned specifically on whether the then-prime minister had proposed convening a Cabinet meeting to lend legitimacy to the martial law declaration. Yoon reportedly reacted strongly to the question, dismissing it as "loaded" and retorting, "Cabinet members are not dolls who came to create an outward appearance."

The special counsel team, led by Cho Eun-suk, harbors suspicions that former President Yoon initially had no intention of holding a Cabinet meeting. However, their investigation suggests he reconsidered and changed his plans after Prime Minister Han reportedly advised that such a meeting would enhance the credibility of his martial law declaration.