Ex-President Yoon acquitted of perjury in appellate trial

An appellate court on Wednesday acquitted former President Yoon Suk Yeol of perjury in the insurrection trial of former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo. The Seoul High Court said Yoon did not appear to have given false testimony when he said he intended to convene a Cabinet meeting before declaring martial law on Dec. 3, 2024. The ruling matched a lower court acquittal in May. Yoon remains jailed and is facing multiple trials after his failed martial law bid.

The Seoul High Court said Yoon likely tried to meet the minimum requirements for declaring martial law.

Special counsel Cho Eun-suk’s team had sought a 10 million-won fine for Yoon.

The prosecution said Yoon first called six Cabinet members to his office and later changed his mind at Han’s suggestion to meet the quorum for a full Cabinet meeting.

A district court sentenced Yoon 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

Updated Sep 16, 2026 11:36 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 on Wednesday acquitted former President Yoon Suk Yeol of committing perjury during the insurrection trial of former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo.

The Seoul High Court ruled that Yoon did not appear to have given false testimony during the November trial when he claimed to have intended to convene a Cabinet meeting before he declared martial law on Dec. 3, 2024.

The ruling is consistent with a lower court's acquittal in May.

"It is difficult to believe that the defendant, given his status and experience, did not know a declaration of martial law should be preceded by deliberations at a Cabinet meeting," the appellate court said. "In fact, he likely tried to meet the minimum requirements for declaring martial law."

Special counsel Cho Eun-suk's team had indicted the former president on charges of perjury, saying he had initially called only six Cabinet members to his office but later changed his mind at Han's suggestion to meet the quorum for a full Cabinet meeting.

The team had requested a 10 million-won ($7,332) fine for Yoon.

The appellate court sided with the former president, however, saying he appeared to have intended to call additional Cabinet members to the meeting independently of Han's proposal.

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.

周三，上诉法院裁定前总统尹锡烈在针对前总理韩德洙的叛乱案审判中作伪证罪名不成立。首尔高等法院表示，尹锡烈在作证时称，他计划在2024年12月3日宣布戒严前召开内阁会议，但并未提供虚假证词。该裁决与下级法院5月份的无罪判决一致。尹锡烈目前仍被监禁，并因其戒严令失败而面临多项审判。

首尔高等法院表示，尹锡悦很可能是试图满足宣布戒严的最低要求。

特别检察官赵恩硕的团队曾要求对尹某处以 1000 万韩元的罚款。

检方称，尹锡悦先是召集了六名内阁成员到他的办公室，后来在韩的建议下改变了主意，决定召集足够人数召开全体内阁会议。

今年2月，地方法院判处尹某终身监禁，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）

更新于2026年9月16日上午11:36（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。

周三，上诉法院宣布前总统尹锡烈在韩国总理韩德洙叛乱案审判中作伪证的罪名不成立。

首尔高等法院裁定，尹锡悦在11月的审判中并未作伪证，当时他声称打算在2024年12月3日宣布戒严之前召开内阁会议。

该裁决与下级法院五月份的无罪判决一致。

上诉法院表示：“鉴于被告的身份和经验，很难相信他会不知道宣布戒严令需要先经过内阁会议审议。事实上，他很可能只是试图满足宣布戒严令的最低要求。”

特别检察官赵银淑的团队以作伪证罪起诉了这位前总统，称他最初只召集了六名内阁成员到办公室，但后来在韩的建议下改变了主意，决定召集足够的人参加全体内阁会议。

该队曾要求对尹某处以 1000 万韩元（约合 7332 美元）的罚款。

然而，上诉法院支持了这位前总统的观点，称他似乎打算在韩的提议之外，独立于韩的提议，召集更多内阁成员参加会议。

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。