Seoul, Aug 18 (NationPress) Over 12,000 citizens have initiated legal action against former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and his spouse, Kim Keon Hee, seeking restitution for the damages incurred due to his declaration of martial law last year.

On behalf of 12,225 plaintiffs, attorney Kim Kyeong-ho submitted the lawsuit to the Seoul Central District Court, demanding 100,000 won (approximately $72) for each individual from Yoon and his wife.

The count of plaintiffs may rise, as the lawsuit allows additional participants to join until its conclusion.

The claimants contend that Yoon's declaration of martial law in December represented deliberate violations of fundamental rights, resulting in irreversible harm to their dignity as constituents of a democratic society, thereby holding Yoon accountable for damages.

Furthermore, they implicated Yoon's wife as an accomplice who contributed to the initiation of Yoon's martial law declaration, asserting her liability for compensation as well.

"The plaintiffs are effectively asking the court to issue a symbolic ruling that would indicate if public officials engage in criminal conduct for personal gain, the resulting profits can be seized accordingly," the attorney commented to the media.

In a recent ruling concerning similar cases, the Seoul Central District Court mandated Yoon to compensate 104 plaintiffs 100,000 won each for his martial law declaration, which has triggered a wave of similar compensation claims, as reported by Yonhap news agency.

Yoon has appealed this ruling to a higher court and has requested a suspension of its enforcement, which the court has conditionally approved.

Earlier that day, former first lady Kim Keon Hee was transported to the special counsel's office for a second round of questioning, following her arrest last week on corruption charges.

Kim was brought to prosecutor Min Joong-ki's office in central Seoul via a prison van for her inquiry.

The wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol was detained in the southwestern Seoul detention center after a warrant was issued for her arrest linked to allegations of stock manipulation, interference in candidate nominations for the 2022 parliamentary by-elections and the 2024 general elections, as well as receiving luxury gifts from the Unification Church through a shaman in return for business favors.

During the questioning, she was primarily interrogated regarding the candidate nominations from 10 a.m. to 11:42 a.m. and is expected to face inquiries about the stock manipulation case in the afternoon, as stated by assistant special counsel Oh Jeong-hee during a press briefing.