Will 11,000 South Koreans Successfully Sue the Former Presidential Couple Over Martial Law?

Seoul, Aug 17 (NationPress) Approximately 11,000 South Korean citizens are preparing to initiate legal action against former President Yoon Suk Yeol and his spouse, seeking financial restitution for damages resulting from his declaration of martial law last year, as reported by legal sources on Sunday.

Attorney Kim Kyeong-ho from Hoin law firm is set to file the lawsuit at the Seoul Central District Court on Monday on behalf of these claimants, requesting 100,000 won ($72) per individual, according to the Yonhap News Agency.

The plaintiffs contend that Yoon's enforcement of martial law in December represented intentional criminal actions against basic human rights and caused irreversible harm to their dignity as citizens in a democratic society, thus holding him accountable for damages.

Furthermore, they accuse his wife, Kim Keon Hee, of being an accomplice who contributed to the declaration of martial law, asserting that she too bears responsibility for compensation.

This lawsuit marks the first time Kim is being held accountable in relation to the martial law controversy.

Recently, in a ruling concerning similar cases, the Seoul Central District Court mandated Yoon to compensate 104 plaintiffs with 100,000 won each for the martial law imposition, which has led to a surge in related claims.

Yoon has since appealed the court's decision to a higher court and filed for an injunction to suspend its enforcement, which has been conditionally granted.

Meanwhile, special prosecutors investigating corruption claims against South Korea's former first lady, Kim Keon Hee, are evaluating potential charges after obtaining a luxurious necklace she allegedly accepted as a quid pro quo for a personnel appointment favor, as legal sources disclosed on Sunday.

Last week, special counsel Min Joong-ki revealed that officials from Seohee Construction submitted a Van Cleef and Arpels necklace and admitted to gifting it to Kim shortly after her husband, former President Yoon Suk Yeol, assumed office in March 2022, in exchange for securing a government position for the company chairman's son-in-law.

The son-in-law, a former prosecutor, was appointed as the chief of staff to then Prime Minister Han Duck-soo three months later.

Kim has denied the allegations, claiming that the necklace she wore during a trip to Europe in 2022 was a fake.

Given the evidence, special prosecutors might file bribery charges against Kim through mediation, acknowledging that she did not occupy any public office and lacked the authority to make personnel decisions.

Legally, bribery charges typically pertain to individuals in public office who exchange benefits for bribes, contrasting with bribery through mediation, where a third party is involved in facilitating the transaction.

To impose bribery charges, special prosecutors would have to demonstrate that Yoon accepted the necklace, implicating Kim as an accomplice in the matter.