Latest news with #Hoin
Times of Oman
a day ago
- Politics
- Times of Oman
Over 12,000 South Koreans sue ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol, wife over martial law declaration
Seoul: A group of over 12,000 South Korean citizens has filed a lawsuit against former President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife, Kim Keon Hee, seeking compensation for the damages allegedly caused by his imposition of martial law in December last year, Yonhap News Agency reported. According to the Yonhap News Agency, 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 (approx. $72) in damages from Yoon and his spouse. The number of claimants is expected to grow, 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 caused severe harm to their dignity as citizens of a democratic society, and further claim that Yoon's actions were deliberate and criminal, carried out at the expense of the public's freedoms. Yoon's wife, Kim Keon Hee, is also named in the lawsuit as an alleged accomplice, with the plaintiffs asserting that she played a role in influencing or supporting the controversial decision and should also be held financially accountable, as reported by the Yonhap News Agency. "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," the lawyer told reporters, as quoted by Yonhap News Agency. This wave of lawsuits follows a precedent-setting ruling last month, where the Seoul Central District Court ordered Yoon to pay 100,000 won 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 that the court conditionally approved. The mass legal action reflects a growing public backlash against Yoon's martial law decision, with critics viewing it as a major violation of democratic principles, Yonhap News Agency reported.
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
12,000 citizens seek compensation from ex-presidential couple over martial law
SEOUL: More than 12,000 citizens filed a lawsuit Monday against former President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife, seeking compensation for damages from his imposition of martial law last year, Yonhap News Agency reported. Kim Kyeong-ho, a lawyer from the law firm Hoin, filed the suit with the Seoul Central District Court on behalf of 12,225 claimants, seeking 100,000 won (US$72) in compensation per person from Yoon and his wife, Kim Keon Hee. The number of plaintiffs could increase, as the suit allows more people to join until it concludes. The plaintiffs argued Yoon's imposition of martial law in December constituted willful criminal acts against people's basic rights and inflicted irreparable damage to their dignity as members of a democratic society, holding Yoon responsible for compensation. They also held Yoon's wife as an accomplice who helped trigger Yoon's martial law declaration, arguing she is also responsible for compensation. "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," the lawyer told reporters. In the first ruling on similar suits late last month, the Seoul Central District Court ordered Yoon to pay 100,000 won in compensation to 104 plaintiffs for his martial law imposition, prompting a series of similar compensation claims.
Barnama
3 days ago
- Politics
- Barnama
12,000 Citizens Seek Compensation From Ex-Presidential Couple Over Martial Law
SEOUL, Aug 18 (Bernama-Yonhap) -- More than 12,000 citizens filed a lawsuit Monday against former President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife, seeking compensation for damages from his imposition of martial law last year, Yonhap News Agency reported. Kim Kyeong-ho, a lawyer from the law firm Hoin, filed the suit with the Seoul Central District Court on behalf of 12,225 claimants, seeking 100,000 won (US$72) in compensation per person from Yoon and his wife, Kim Keon Hee. The number of plaintiffs could increase, as the suit allows more people to join until it concludes.
Hans India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
South Korea: 11,000 citizens to file compensation suit against ex-presidential couple over martial law
Around 11,000 South Korean citizens plan to file a lawsuit against former President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife, seeking compensation for damages from his imposition of martial law last year, legal sources said Sunday. Kim Kyeong-ho, a lawyer from the law firm Hoin, will file the suit with the Seoul Central District Court on Monday on behalf of 11,000 claimants, seeking 100,000 won ($72) in compensation per person, the sources said, Yonhap News Agency reported. The plaintiffs argued that Yoon's imposition of martial law in December constituted willful criminal acts against people's basic rights and inflicted irreparable damage to their dignity as members of a democratic society, holding Yoon responsible for compensation. They also held his wife, Kim Keon Hee, as an accomplice who helped trigger Yoon's martial law declaration, arguing she is also responsible for compensation. It marks the first reported lawsuit seeking compensation from Kim over the martial law debacle. In the first ruling on similar suits late last month, the Seoul Central District Court ordered Yoon to pay 100,000 won in compensation to 104 plaintiffs for his martial law imposition, prompting a series of similar compensation claims. Yoon appealed the court ruling to a higher court and filed for an injunction seeking to suspend its implementation, which the court conditionally granted. Meanwhile, special prosecutors investigating corruption allegations against South Korea's former first lady Kim Keon Hee were deliberating over the charges to press against her after securing a luxury necklace she allegedly accepted in exchange for a personnel appointment favour, legal sources said on Sunday. Last week, special counsel Min Joong-ki's team said Seohee Construction officials submitted the Van Cleef and Arpels necklace and confessed to gifting the item to Kim right after her husband, former President Yoon Suk Yeol, was elected in March 2022, seeking a government job for the company chairman's son-in-law. The son-in-law, a former prosecutor, was appointed as the chief of staff for then Prime Minister Han Duck-soo three months later. Kim has reportedly denied the allegation, arguing that the necklace she wore during a 2022 trip to Europe was not authentic. Given the evidence, special prosecutors could press charges of bribery through mediation against Kim, considering that she did not hold any public office and did not have any authority to make any personnel appointments. Under the law, bribery charges apply to people typically holding public office who provide a benefit in exchange for the bribe, compared with bribery through mediation, when a third party is involved to facilitate the transaction. In order to apply bribery charges, special prosecutors would need to prove that Yoon himself accepted the necklace, placing Kim as an accomplice in the case.
