Seoul [South Korea], August 20 (ANI): More than 12,000 South Korean citizens have filed a lawsuit against former President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife, Kim Keon Hee, seeking compensation for damages allegedly caused by his declaration of martial law in December last year, Yonhap News Agency reported.
The suit, submitted Monday to the Seoul Central District Court by lawyer Kim Kyeong-ho of law firm Hoin, represents 12,225 plaintiffs, each demanding KRW 100,000 (approximately USD 72) in damages from Yoon and his spouse. The number of claimants is expected to rise, as the case remains open for additional participants until a final verdict is reached.
The plaintiffs argue that the martial law declaration violated basic constitutional rights and inflicted serious harm on their dignity as citizens of a democratic society. They further contend that Yoon’s actions were deliberate and criminal, carried out at the expense of public freedoms.
Yoon’s wife, Kim Keon Hee, is also named in the lawsuit as an alleged accomplice. The plaintiffs claim she influenced or supported the controversial decision and should therefore be held financially accountable. “The claimants have effectively requested the court deliver a symbolic ruling demonstrating that if public officials commit criminal acts for financial gain, the profits can be confiscated accordingly,” lawyer Kim said, as quoted by Yonhap.
The mass lawsuit follows a precedent-setting ruling last month, when the Seoul Central District Court ordered Yoon to pay KRW 100,000 to 104 individuals in a similar case. Yoon has since appealed the decision and filed for an injunction to halt enforcement of the ruling, a request the court conditionally approved.
The legal action reflects growing public backlash against Yoon’s martial law decision, which critics view as a major violation of democratic principles, Yonhap reported.
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