Seoul: A Seoul court has acquitted former President Yoon Suk Yeol of perjury charges related to his testimony during the trial of former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo's insurrection case. Yoon, who is currently imprisoned, faced accusations of providing false testimony regarding a Cabinet meeting he convened shortly before declaring martial law on December 3, 2024.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the Seoul Central District Court found it challenging to establish that Yoon's testimony contradicted his own memory. The court noted the possibility that Yoon may have intended to hold the Cabinet meeting independently of Han's suggestion. Special counsel Cho Eun-suk's team, which had sought a two-year prison sentence for Yoon on the perjury charge, will consider whether to appeal the ruling.

During the trial in November, Yoon was questioned about whether Han had proposed convening a Cabinet meeting to legitimize the martial law declaration. Yoon objected to the line of questioning, stating, "Cabinet members are not dolls who come to create an outward appearance." The special counsel team charged Yoon with perjury in December, claiming he initially lacked plans for a Cabinet meeting but altered his approach following Han's proposal.

The court determined that Yoon may have had a phased plan to meet with Cabinet members, as evidenced by pre-prepared documents for then Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok. The court ruled that Yoon's testimony did not constitute perjury, citing the lack of contradiction with his memory.

Yoon has been in custody since July and is facing a total of eight trials related to his failed martial law attempt, corruption allegations involving his wife, and the 2023 death of a Marine. In February, he was sentenced to life imprisonment for leading an insurrection through the martial law attempt in the main case.