Lawsuit Against Yoon Seok-yeol Initiated by Citizens
Demanding 100,000 Won Compensation Per Person
Free Lawyer Fees and Full Donation of Winning Amount
Since the emergency martial law was declared by President Yoon Seok-yeol on the 3rd, citizens feeling anxiety and fear are filing a mental damages lawsuit against President Yoon. The photo shows citizens watching President Yoon's national address in the waiting room of Seoul Station on the 7th. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung
Citizens who suffered mental damage such as anxiety and fear due to President Yoon Seok-yeol's declaration of martial law are filing a lawsuit seeking damages against President Yoon.
On the 10th, the "Preparation Group for a Lawsuit Claiming Compensation for Yoon Seok-yeol's Treasonous Acts" announced, "We are filing a lawsuit against Yoon Seok-yeol personally, seeking compensation of 100,000 KRW per person as consolation for mental damages."
The lawsuit was jointly proposed by lawyer Lee Geum-gyu, who was the National Assembly's representative during the impeachment trial of Park Geun-hye, and lawyer Kim Jeong-ho, who represented victims in civil and criminal lawsuits related to Jeon Du-hwan's memoirs. They stated that citizens who experienced anxiety and fear due to the declaration of martial law and attempted treason should receive compensation for mental damages, and have begun recruiting citizens to participate as plaintiffs. The recruitment targets are citizens aged 19 and older, who are legally adults under civil law, and are referred to as the "Gapsin 105" opposing regional "Gabsin 105" groups. This is symbolic of protesting the 105 People Power Party lawmakers who abstained from voting on President Yoon's impeachment motion.
Lawyer Lee said, "The martial law declared by President Yoon and the actions of the martial law troops that obstructed the National Assembly's resolution are unconstitutional acts," adding, "Because of this, citizens were threatened in their lives and bodies." He further explained the reason for the lawsuit, saying, "Citizens have the right to claim damages for illegal acts, and we are filing a lawsuit seeking 100,000 KRW in compensation as consolation." Legal fees will be free, and any awarded damages will be fully donated.
In the proposal, the preparation group stated, "The declaration of martial law and the obstruction of the National Assembly and its members' resolutions through martial law troops are not only unconstitutional but also constitute the crime of treason under criminal law, according to the opinions of many legal scholars and the judgment of most citizens." They continued, "Each citizen of the Republic of Korea had their constitutional right to popular sovereignty and the right to form constitutional institutions under representative democracy violated, and were threatened physically. The self-esteem enjoyed as owners who fought for democracy and established a mature democratic nation and society was instantly destroyed, and they were forced to endure humiliation from the international community," criticizing the situation.
They added, "Lawsuits claiming compensation against Yoon Seok-yeol should erupt like wildfire in courts nationwide, holding him accountable under constitutional, criminal, and civil law," and said, "Anyone who points a gun at the people must be utterly ruined so that no one in our constitutional history dares to attempt such unconstitutional acts again."
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