Ex-President Yoon to be handed appellate ruling in perjury case

Former President Yoon Suk Yeol was set to receive an appellate ruling in Seoul on Wednesday on perjury charges tied to former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo’s insurrection trial. The Seoul High Court scheduled a sentencing hearing for 10:30 a.m. after a lower court acquitted him in May. Yoon is accused of falsely testifying in November about planning a Cabinet meeting before declaring martial law on Dec. 3, 2024. Special counsel Cho Eun-suk’s team had sought a 10 million-won fine.

The lower court ruled in May that Yoon appeared to have intended to convene the Cabinet meeting independently of Han’s suggestion.

The special counsel said Yoon only convened the meeting at Han’s suggestion to give his martial law declaration a veneer of legitimacy.

During the appellate trial, the special counsel requested a 10 million-won fine for Yoon.

Yoon is jailed and faces multiple trials after his failed martial law bid and subsequent ouster from office.

A district court sentenced him to life in prison in February for leading an insurrection through his short-lived imposition of martial law.

Published Sep 16, 2026 9:27 am KST

Former President Yoon Suk Yeol attends the insurrection trial of former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, Nov. 19, 2025. Courtesy of Seoul Central District Court

An appellate court was set to deliver its verdict Wednesday on charges that former President Yoon Suk Yeol committed perjury during the insurrection trial of former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo.

The Seoul High Court is scheduled to hold a sentencing hearing at 10:30 a.m. after a lower court acquitted Yoon of the charge in May.

The former president is accused of lying during Han's trial in November that he had intended to convene a Cabinet meeting before declaring martial law on Dec. 3, 2024.

Special counsel Cho Eun-suk's team indicted him on charges of perjury, saying Yoon only convened the meeting at Han's suggestion to give his martial law declaration a veneer of legitimacy.

The lower court sided with Yoon, ruling that he appeared to have intended to convene the meeting independently of Han's suggestion.

During the appellate trial, the special counsel requested a 10 million-won ($7,332) fine for Yoon.

The jailed former president is standing multiple trials following his failed martial law bid and subsequent ouster from office.

A district court sentenced him to life in prison in February for leading an insurrection through his short-lived imposition of martial law. The appellate trial is currently under way.

前总统尹锡烈原定于周三在首尔接受上诉法院的判决，该判决涉及其在前总理韩德洙叛乱案审判中作伪证的指控。首尔高等法院已安排于上午10:30举行量刑听证会，此前下级法院于5月宣判尹锡烈无罪。尹锡烈被控于去年11月就2024年12月3日宣布戒严前召开内阁会议一事作伪证。特别检察官赵银淑的团队曾要求对其处以1000万韩元的罚款。

下级法院在 5 月份裁定，尹锡悦似乎打算独立于韩正熙的建议召开内阁会议。

特别检察官表示，尹锡悦只是在韩正熙的建议下召开了这次会议，目的是为了让他的戒严令看起来具有合法性。

在上诉审判期间，特别检察官要求对尹某处以 1000 万韩元的罚款。

尹锡悦因戒严令失败和随后的下台而被监禁，并面临多项审判。

今年二月，地方法院判处他终身监禁，罪名是他在短暂实施戒严令期间领导叛乱。

发布于2026年9月16日上午9:27（韩国标准时间）

2025年11月19日，前总统尹锡烈出席前总理韩德洙的叛乱罪审判。图片由首尔中央地方法院提供。

上诉法院原定于周三对前总统尹锡烈在审判前总理韩德洙的叛乱案中作伪证的指控作出判决。

首尔高等法院定于上午 10:30 举行量刑听证会，此前下级法院于 5 月宣判尹某无罪。

这位前总统被指控在11月韩的审判中撒谎，称他原本打算在2024年12月3日宣布戒严令之前召开内阁会议。

特别检察官赵恩硕的团队以作伪证罪起诉他，称尹某只是在韩某的建议下召开会议，目的是为他的戒严令赋予合法性。

下级法院支持尹某的观点，裁定他似乎打算独立于韩某的建议召开会议。

在上诉审判期间，特别检察官要求对尹某处以 1000 万韩元（7332 美元）的罚款。

这位被监禁的前总统在戒严令失败并随后被罢免后，正面临多项审判。

今年2月，地方法院以他短暂实施戒严令领导叛乱为由，判处他终身监禁。目前，上诉审判正在进行中。