Perjury, Political Funds Act Violations... Yoon Faces Six More First-Instance Trials

"Insurrection Ringleader" Given Life Sentence in First Trial

Special Prosecutors for Insurrection, Kim Keon Hee, and Death-in-the-Line-of-Duty Marine Case
Two Additional Indictments Each Besides Cases Already Sentenced,
Including Public Offic

Former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in the first trial on charges of leading an insurrection in connection with the December 3 Martial Law, is set to undergo six more first-instance trials, drawing attention to the outcomes of the upcoming verdicts.

According to the legal community on February 20, former President Yoon is currently facing six first-instance trials at the Seoul Central District Court. In addition to the two cases for which sentences have already been handed down, the three special counsel teams (Insurrection, Kim Keon Hee, and the Death in the Line of Duty Marine case) have each indicted him in two additional cases.

First, the "Pyongyang Drone Incident" case and a perjury case, both brought by the special counsel team investigating the insurrection, are under trial. The 10th hearing related to the Pyongyang Drone Incident is scheduled for February 23. Former President Yoon and others are accused of having sent drones into Pyongyang, North Korea, multiple times since October last year to build a pretext for declaring martial law. The special counsel applied the charge of general aiding the enemy, claiming that the crash of drones inside North Korea led to the leakage of military secrets.

The second preparatory hearing in the case where he is charged with perjury in the trial of former Prime Minister Han Duck Soo will be held on February 26. The court plans to hold the first main hearing on April 16. He is accused of falsely testifying that the government planned to declare martial law after deliberation, even though martial law was declared without deliberation once the quorum for the Cabinet meeting was met.

Cases brought by the special counsel team investigating Kim Keon Hee, involving alleged violations of the Political Funds Act and the Public Official Election Act, are also underway. The first hearing in the case where former President Yoon has been put on trial on charges of illegally receiving a free opinion poll from Myung Tae-gyun will be held on March 17. The schedule for the first hearing in the case where he has been indicted on charges of disseminating false information about former Yongsan Tax Office Chief Yoon, Jeon Seong-bae, known as "Geonjin Beopsa," and others during his time as the People Power Party’s presidential candidate has not yet been set.

The second preparatory hearing in the case brought by the special counsel team investigating the "Corporal Chae Death in the Line of Duty Case Investigation Pressure" allegations is scheduled for March 18. Former President Yoon is accused of abusing his authority and other charges by exerting pressure on July 19, 2023, after Corporal Chae’s death in the line of duty, to alter the investigation findings of the Marine Corps investigation team that had been looking into the case.

The case concerning allegations that former Defense Minister Lee Jong Seop "fled to Australia" completed its preparatory hearing on February 11. The first main hearing is scheduled for March 31. These allegations arose when former Minister Lee, a key suspect in the case involving pressure over Corporal Chae’s death in the line of duty and under investigation by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, left the country after being appointed ambassador to Australia. Former President Yoon is charged with ordering his appointment as ambassador four months after Corporal Chae’s death in order to help him flee (harboring a criminal, abuse of authority, and violation of the National Public Service Act).

However, there is a possibility that the trial dates may change due to the regular judicial personnel reshuffle scheduled for February 23.

Meanwhile, if former President Yoon appeals the life sentence handed down the previous day, he will simultaneously face two appellate trials and six first-instance trials going forward.