"Yoon's December 3 Martial Law, Fear and Humiliation... Damage Suit Filed in Gwangju"

23 Citizen Plaintiffs Demand "Compensation of 100,000 Won Each"
Gwangju Women Lawyers Association Files Free Lawsuit for 'Damages'

As more than 10,000 citizens are filing a large-scale damages lawsuit against President Yoon Suk-yeol, who triggered the '12/3 Illegal Martial Law Incident,' a similar lawsuit has been filed in Gwangju.

According to the legal community on the 18th, the Gwangju Women's Lawyers Association filed a lawsuit at the Gwangju District Court the previous day against President Yoon, seeking damages for the unconstitutional and illegal martial law. The citizen plaintiffs (23 people) demanded compensation of 100,000 won each for emotional distress.

The Gwangju Women's Lawyers Association stated, "President Yoon declared unconstitutional and illegal martial law, mobilizing armed soldiers to the National Assembly and the National Election Commission, plunging the people into shock and fear," and added, "This constitutes grounds for impeachment and the crime of insurrection under criminal law."

They continued, "We have decided to represent Gwangju citizens free of charge in their damages lawsuit against President Yoon for the mental suffering caused by the declaration of martial law," and asserted, "We hope this lawsuit will actively express our commitment to defending democracy and serve as an opportunity to reaffirm the values of the Constitution and the rule of law."

Citizens attending the 6th Gwangju Citizens' General Rally held on the special stage at Geumnam-ro, Dong-gu, Gwangju on the 14th cheer as the impeachment motion against President Yoon Seokyeol is passed. Photo by Song Bohyun

Previously, the 'Preparation Group for the Compensation Lawsuit for Yoon Suk-yeol's Acts of Insurrection' announced on the 13th that the number of citizen plaintiffs who expressed their intention to participate in the lawsuit seeking compensation from President Yoon had reached 10,060.

By region, there were 3,014 in Gyeonggi, 2,752 in Seoul, 633 in Incheon, 574 in Gwangju, 461 in Busan, 355 in Gyeongnam, 316 in Jeonnam, 310 in Daegu, 267 in Jeonbuk, 254 in Chungnam, 248 in Daejeon, 240 in Gyeongbuk, 225 in Chungbuk, 213 in Gangwon, 133 in Ulsan, 95 in Jeju, and 75 in Sejong.

The lawsuit requires no upfront payment or attorney fees, and if successful, all awarded compensation will be donated to public interest organizations.

In its proposal, the preparation group stated, "The act of declaring martial law and using martial law troops to obstruct the decisions of the National Assembly and its members is not only unconstitutional but also constitutes the crime of insurrection under criminal law, according to many legal scholars and the judgment of the majority of the people." They continued, "Each citizen of the Republic of Korea has had their constitutional right to national sovereignty and the principle of representative democracy infringed upon, and has been subjected to physical threats. The self-esteem enjoyed as citizens who achieved a mature democracy and society was instantly shattered, and we are now in a position to endure humiliation from the international community," they criticized.

They further emphasized, "Lawsuits claiming damages against President Yoon must erupt like wildfire in courts nationwide, holding him accountable not only under the Constitution and criminal law but also under civil law," and added, "Anyone who points a gun at the people must face complete ruin, so that no one in our constitutional history ever dares to attempt such unconstitutional acts again."