Politics · South Korea · 18 hrs ago
Yoon's first trial over martial law messages set for next week
Former South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol faces his first trial on Nov.
13 over alleged orders to tell foreign governments that his Dec.
3 martial law declaration was justified.
Prosecutors say Yoon and former national security chief Shin Won-sik directed officials to send those messages to the United States, Britain, Japan and the European Union.
Yoon denies giving the orders, saying his actions were either not as alleged or part of normal diplomatic work.
The hearings come amid other court cases linked to the martial law declaration, including a first hearing for former military official Cho Seong-hyun on Nov.
12.
On Nov.
11, actor Kim Soo-hyun is due to testify in a case against YouTube channel head Kim Se-eui, who is charged with spreading false claims about him and other offenses.
A Seoul appeals court will also rule on a dispute between Young Poong and Korea Zinc over whether Korea Zinc lawfully issued shares to an affiliate of Hyundai Motor Group; a lower court ruled for Young Poong.
Yoon Suk Yeol’s first formal trial over alleged orders to send messages defending his declaration of martial law is scheduled for Nov. 13.
The former president and former National Security Office chief Shin Won-sik are charged with abuse of authority and related offenses.
Prosecutors allege they ordered officials to send messages to the United States, Britain, Japan and the European Union after martial law was declared.
Yoon’s lawyers deny that he gave the instructions or say they were part of routine diplomatic work.
The trial will be held at the Seoul Central District Court.
- Who
- Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and former National Security Office chief Shin Won-sik.
- What
- Their first formal trial over alleged orders to send messages defending martial law.
- When
- Nov. 13 at 2 p.m.
- Where
- Seoul Central District Court, South Korea.
- Why
- They are accused of abusing their authority by directing officials to send messages defending the Dec. 3 martial law declaration to foreign governments and the European Union.
Yoon and Shin
Prosecutors
Alleged instructions
Yoon and Shin
Prosecutors say they directed officials to send messages defending the martial law declaration to foreign governments and the European Union.
Prosecutors
Yoon’s lawyers say he did not give the instructions or that they were part of routine diplomatic work.
Martial law was declared in South Korea, after which prosecutors allege the messages were ordered.
Yoon and Shin were indicted over the alleged instructions.
At a preparatory hearing, Yoon’s lawyers denied the allegations or described the instructions as routine diplomatic work.
The Seoul Central District Court is scheduled to hold the first formal trial.
- Defendants
- Yoon Suk Yeol and Shin Won-sik
- Trial date
- Nov. 13, 2026, at 2 p.m.
- Court
- Seoul Central District Court
- Alleged recipients
- United States, Britain, Japan and European Union
- Charges
- Abuse of authority and related offenses
1 source
What people are saying
This measure is for the protection of liberal democracy
President Yoon maintains a position of opposing pro-North Korean leftists and anti-Americanism