President Yoon Suk-yeol attends court. [Photo courtesy of Seoul Central District Court]

President Yoon Suk-yeol has been acquitted of charges of perjury during the rebellion trial of former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo.

The Criminal Division 32 of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Ryu Kyung-jin) acquitted President Yoon on the 28th of charges of perjury.

Upon hearing the acquittal, President Yoon smiled, shook hands with his lawyer, and left the courtroom.

The court ruled that President Yoon's testimony in November last year, when he appeared as a witness in former Prime Minister Han's rebellion trial and responded to the special prosecutor's questioning with, "Are you not asking too much of a question that reflects the opinions of ministers who are not dolls meant to serve a purpose of outward appearance?" did not constitute a false statement contrary to his memory.

At the time, the special prosecution team had asked, "Did former Prime Minister Han suggest convening a cabinet meeting to establish a legal facade?" The special prosecution team's assessment was that President Yoon's statement was a lie intended to convey that the cabinet meeting was planned from the outset.

However, the court stated on this day, "It appears highly probable that President Yoon had already planned to convene the ministers, regardless of former Prime Minister Han's suggestion."

The court pointed out that the indictment's premise was that President Yoon, on the day martial law was declared, had initially summoned only six ministers, including former Prime Minister Han, and only after hearing Han's suggestion, he then summoned an additional six ministers, including former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Choi Sang-mok, to meet the quorum for a cabinet meeting.

It further stated, "However, documents to be handed to Deputy Prime Minister Choi, who was contacted later, were prepared in advance, and President Yoon, at the time of ordering the additional summons, specified six individuals including Deputy Prime Minister Choi, not just 'ministers who could arrive quickly.'" The court concluded, "It seems he had a plan to convene the remaining ministers, including Deputy Prime Minister Choi, in a second round after meeting with the initial six ministers that evening."

The court added, "The defendant's statement that he intended to convene a cabinet meeting from the beginning is merely an expression of the defendant's opinion or subjective evaluation regarding whether the meetings of ministers summoned in two rounds held legal effect as a 'cabinet meeting,' and it is difficult to consider it a statement contrary to his memory of the facts," ruling, "It is not subject to perjury charges."

Following the verdict, lawyer Yoo Jeong-hwa, who represents President Yoon, expressed her welcome on Facebook, stating, "I am grateful to the court for demonstrating what legal principles are and what the role of a judge is."

The special prosecution team told reporters, "We will decide whether to appeal after reviewing the court's decision."

President Yoon Suk-yeol [Photo courtesy of Seoul Central District Court]

This is the third time President Yoon has been acquitted of charges leveled against him since the declaration of emergency martial law.

Previously, in the first instance of the charges of obstruction of justice by a public official, he was found guilty of forging and destroying a declaration of martial law as if it were made by documents signed by former Prime Minister Han and former Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun after the lifting of martial law, but he was acquitted of using this forged document.

The same court also found President Yoon not guilty of charges of abuse of power for instructing the dissemination of a Press Guidance (PG) containing false information to foreign media, stating that there was "no intention of destroying the constitutional order."

However, an appellate court overturned the acquittal regarding the PG charges. This case is currently undergoing appeal proceedings.

President Yoon is currently facing trials in a total of eight cases, including the perjury charges and the obstruction of justice charges.

First, in the first instance of the rebellion leader charges related to the 12.3 emergency martial law, he was sentenced to life imprisonment, and an appeal trial is underway.

He has also been indicted on charges of general treason for ordering the Drone Operations Command to launch an operation to infiltrate Pyongyang with unmanned aircraft to create a pretext for emergency martial law, and his first instance sentencing is scheduled for the 12th of next month.

The first instance sentencing for the charge of violating the Political Funds Act, related to receiving opinion polls free of charge from Mr. Myung Tae-gyun, is scheduled for the 23rd of next month.

In addition, he is on trial for charges of abuse of power, etc., for exerting undue influence on the investigation into the death of Corporal Chae, charges of aiding and abetting fugitives, etc., for appointing Lee Jong-sup, former Minister of National Defense and the key suspect in the Chae incident investigation, as ambassador to Australia to help him evade arrest, and charges of violating the Public Official Election Act for spreading false information related to Mr. Jeon Seong-bae of Geonjin Beopsa during his presidential campaign.

Hanmiilbo Social Affairs Division