Ex-South Korean president faces renewed legal battle over perjury case

Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has appealed against his acquittal on a perjury charge linked to the trial of former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, Yonhap reports.

A special counsel team led by Cho Eun-suk filed the appeal with the Seoul High Court on September 22, legal sources said.

The case centres on testimony Yoon gave during a November hearing, in which he said he had intended to hold a Cabinet meeting before declaring martial law on 3 December 2024.

A lower court had previously acquitted Yoon, and an appellate court upheld that decision six days ago.

Prosecutors had argued that Yoon initially summoned only six Cabinet members before deciding to meet the legal quorum after a suggestion from Han. They had sought a fine of 10 million won ($7,399).

The appellate court, however, found that the evidence indicated Yoon had independently intended to invite additional Cabinet members, rather than doing so in response to Han's suggestion.

Yoon was first detained for questioning on January 15, 2025, becoming the first sitting South Korean president to be taken into custody. Investigators accused him of leading an insurrection over his 3 December 2024 martial-law declaration.

After leaving office following his impeachment, Yoon was detained again in July 2025 after a court issued a new arrest warrant, citing concerns that he could destroy evidence.

His legal troubles have since expanded into several separate trials. In January 2026, a court sentenced him to five years in prison in a case involving obstruction of investigators trying to arrest him. An appeals court increased the sentence to seven years in April, and the Supreme Court upheld it in July.

In February 2026, Yoon was sentenced to life imprisonment after being convicted of leading an insurrection through his martial-law declaration. He is appealing that ruling, and the appellate trial is ongoing.

By Aghakazim Guliyev