Seoul: A special counsel team on Wednesday sought a 10 million-won (US$7,150) fine for former President Yoon Suk Yeol during his appellate trial on perjury charges. Special counsel Cho Eun-suk's team made the request at the Seoul High Court, following a lower court's decision to acquit Yoon of committing perjury during the insurrection trial of former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo in November.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Yoon had testified in the trial that he planned to convene a Cabinet meeting for his martial law declaration on December 3, 2024. However, Cho's team contends that Yoon made the decision to call the meeting only after Han's suggestion on that day. Despite this, the lower court acquitted Yoon of perjury in May, determining that he appeared to have intended to convene the meeting independently of Han's proposal.

Cho's team appealed the lower court's decision and requested the appellate court to overturn the acquittal during the trial's final hearing. In his final statement, Yoon defended his actions, asserting that he had planned to hold a Cabinet meeting prior to his declaration and had summoned additional Cabinet members to ensure a quorum was met.

The Seoul High Court has scheduled the sentencing for September 16. The former president, who is currently incarcerated, is facing multiple trials related to his failed martial law attempt and subsequent removal from office. Earlier in February, a district court sentenced him to life in prison for leading an insurrection through his brief imposition of martial law, a ruling he has since appealed.