South Korea’s Yoon Acquitted of Perjury in Landmark Ruling
A Seoul court on Thursday acquitted former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol of perjury charges stemming from his testimony during the insurrection trial of former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, ruling that his statements were subjective evaluations rather than factual contradictions. The verdict marks a significant legal development in the sprawling criminal saga stemming from South Korea’s 2024 martial law crisis.
The Seoul Central District Court’s 32nd Criminal Division, presided over by Judge Ryu Kyung-jin, found that the prosecution had failed to prove Yoon made statements contrary to his own memory when he testified as a witness in November 2025, according to Yonhap News Agency.
The Perjury Allegation
The special counsel team led by Cho Eun-suk indicted Yoon in December 2025, arguing that the former president had given false testimony during Han Duck-soo’s insurrection trial. At the heart of the case was whether Yoon had independently planned to convene a Cabinet meeting before declaring martial law on December 3, 2024, or whether he only did so after Han suggested it would provide legal cover.
During Han’s trial, Yoon was asked whether the then-prime minister had proposed convening a Cabinet meeting to make the martial law declaration appear procedurally lawful. Yoon responded emphatically, calling the question “nonsense” and retorting that “Cabinet members are not puppets who come to create an appearance,” as The Chosun Ilbo reported.
When asked directly by the presiding judge whether he had intended to hold a Cabinet meeting from the beginning, Yoon replied, “Yes.”
The special counsel sought a two-year prison sentence, arguing in April 2026 that Yoon initially had no intention of convening a Cabinet meeting but changed his mind after Han’s proposal.
The Court’s Reasoning
The court drew a crucial legal distinction between statements of fact and statements of opinion. Perjury under South Korean law requires a witness to make a statement “contrary to their memory” about facts they experienced. The court determined that Yoon’s claim about having “intended to convene a Cabinet meeting with a quorum from the beginning” was a subjective evaluation, not a factual claim that could be objectively verified.
“Statements regarding subjective evaluations of experienced facts or opinions on legal effect do not fall under perjury,” the court explained in its ruling, as reported by Chosun Ilbo.
Furthermore, the court independently assessed the evidence and concluded there was a “high probability” that Yoon had planned to summon Cabinet members from the outset, regardless of Han’s suggestion. This finding created reasonable doubt that undermined the prosecution’s case.
Broader Legal Context
The perjury acquittal, while a legal victory for Yoon, has limited practical impact. The former president remains in custody serving a life sentence imposed in February 2026 for leading an insurrection through his martial law bid, as BBC News reported. Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo was sentenced to 23 years in prison in January 2026 for his role in the same crisis.
Yoon is currently facing a total of eight separate trials, including cases related to corruption allegations involving his wife and the 2023 death of a Marine. His appeal of the life sentence for insurrection is pending after an appeals court paused proceedings on May 14.
Reaction and Next Steps
Assistant Special Counsel Jang Woo-sung expressed surprise at the acquittal, telling reporters that the team would “decide whether to appeal after thoroughly reviewing the ruling,” according to Chosun Ilbo.
The acquittal could strengthen Yoon’s position in his appeal of the insurrection conviction and may influence public perception of the fairness of South Korea’s judicial process in politically charged cases. The ruling also underscores the judiciary’s independence in a deeply polarized political environment.
For now, the former president — who shocked the nation by declaring martial law for the first time since South Korea’s democratization in the 1980s — remains behind bars, his legal battles far from over.
Reporting contributed by Xinhua News, Yonhap News Agency, and The Chosun Ilbo.