"Yoon Sukyeol and Kim Keonhee Jointly Sued for Martial Law Responsibility: Compensation Lawsuit Begins with 12,000 Plaintiffs"

Claiming 100,000 Won Per Person
"Additional Participants Will Be Accepted Continuously"

A damages lawsuit jointly holding former President Yoon Sukyeol and his wife, Kim Keonhee, accountable for martial law was filed on August 18.

Former President Yoon Sukyeol is greeting supporters as he leaves the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, and moves to his private residence in Seocho-dong on April 11, 2025. Photo by Yoon Dongju

On this day, attorney Kim Kyungho of Hoin Law Office submitted a complaint to the Seoul Central District Court on behalf of 12,225 citizens, seeking 100,000 won in compensation per person from former President Yoon and Mrs. Kim.

Attorney Kim stated, "This lawsuit involves a total of 12,225 plaintiffs, including those selected as representatives. If all of them were listed in the complaint and the verdict, it would be not only cumbersome but would also incur 1.1 billion won in delivery fees alone. Therefore, by utilizing Article 53 of the Civil Procedure Act regarding representative litigation, we have designated one representative party. If this person receives the legal documents, the legal effect extends to all other selected plaintiffs."

He added, "As long as new participants join and a list of those who agree to be selected as representative parties is submitted before the conclusion of pleadings, their participation in the lawsuit is valid." This means that individuals wishing to participate can join until the lawsuit concludes.

This lawsuit is being conducted using the representative party system, allowing additional participants to join until the case is closed. The Civil Procedure Act provides for joint litigation and the representative party system as methods for multiple victims to file a lawsuit together. In such cases, either all victims become joint plaintiffs, or a designated individual acts as the party to the lawsuit on behalf of all plaintiffs to proceed with the dispute.

Attorney Kim argued, "According to media reports, the real motivation behind the 12·3 Martial Law was to cover up the 'Kim Keonhee risk' and to suppress the passage of the special prosecutor act, with related evidence emerging. In fact, during the process, Mrs. Kim reportedly communicated with coup forces using a burner phone," adding, "She bears responsibility as a joint tortfeasor."

Attorney Kim also stated that he plans to secure materials from the special prosecutor to obtain evidence of Mrs. Kim's involvement in the martial law.

Previously, on July 25, the Seoul Central District Court accepted the claims of 104 citizens who argued they suffered psychological damage due to former President Yoon's declaration of martial law, and ordered compensation of 100,000 won each.