Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was acquitted on Friday (September 11, 2026) in a case related to a marine’s drowning death in a rare reprieve in one of the criminal cases brought against him following his ouster for imposing martial law.
Park, who was investigated for insubordination. Yoon’s martial law decree lasted only hours, after a quorum of lawmakers managed to break through a blockade of heavily armed soldiers and voted to revoke the measure, forcing his Cabinet to lift it. He has appealed the conviction and life sentence for rebellion, which was the most serious charge stemming from his brief imposition of martial law in December 2024.
Prosecutors said the then-head of the marines’ investigation team, Park Jung-hun, defied the pressure and sent the report to police and that Yoon subsequently ordered officials to retrieve the report from police and dismiss Mr.
Chae Su-geun, who drowned during a search-and-rescue operation for flood victims in 2023. Prosecutors didn’t immediately say whether they would appeal Friday’s (September 11) verdict. The independent counsel’s indictment had alleged Yoon deliberately appointed former Defence Minister Lee Jong-Sup as his ambassador to Australia to help him leave the country and evade a criminal investigation into the death of Cpl. But the Seoul Central District Court ruled it was unclear whether Yoon’s appointment was intended to disrupt the investigation. Lee as ambassador to promote military cooperation with Canberra, and his lawyers welcomed the court’s verdict while calling on prosecutors not to appeal. Yoon’s former Justice Minister and Presidential Security Director were among other defendants also acquitted of charges that they colluded with Yoon to help Mr. Lee sidestep the investigation. A separate indictment alleges Yoon and other officials tried to cover up and manipulate the investigation into Chae’s death, which sparked a public uproar after it emerged that military commanders had ordered soldiers to conduct search operations without life vests and other safety equipment. An early investigation by the marine corps held a division commander and seven other people responsible for Chae’s death.
Yoon said he appointed Mr. But Yoon expressed fury over the commander’s inclusion, prompting senior presidential and Defence Ministry officials to pressure the marine corps to revise the report to exclude the commander, according to prosecutors.
