Ex-President Yoon Suk-yeol Acquitted in Perjury Trial

Former South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has been cleared of perjury allegations by a Seoul court, marking a significant moment in his complex legal battle. The decision follows weeks of scrutiny over his statements during a related high-profile trial. Prosecutors accused Yoon of lying under oath during the proceedings against former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo. The allegations suggested that Yoon fabricated details about a cabinet meeting convened just before the December 2024 martial law declaration, claiming it was Han's idea rather than a pre-planned move. The court rejected these claims, stating that Yoon's testimony did not demonstrably conflict with his memory of events. The judges highlighted the likelihood that Yoon had contemplated calling the meeting independently of Han's input. The controversy stems from Yoon's November testimony, where he pushed back against what he viewed as a loaded question regarding Han's role in the cabinet meeting. He asserted that cabinet members were not mere props in a staged event. This exchange prompted the perjury indictment in December. Currently detained since July, Yoon faces multiple charges ranging from leading a rebellion through martial law to corruption linked to his spouse and a separate marine death case from 2023. His February life sentence on rebellion charges remains under appeal.