A South Korean court on Friday acquitted ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol of charges that he abused his power and helped a former defence minister evade a criminal investigation by appointing him as ambassador to Australia.
The Seoul Central District Court found Yoon not guilty of charges including aiding a criminal’s flight and abuse of power, according to Yonhap News Agency.
The case centred on Yoon’s appointment of former Defence Minister Lee Jong-sup as South Korea’s ambassador to Australia in November 2023. Prosecutors alleged that the appointment was intended to help Lee avoid an investigation into allegations surrounding the handling of the death of a young Marine.
Special counsel Lee Myeong-hyeon’s team had sought a five-year prison sentence for Yoon, arguing that the former president had used his authority to facilitate Lee’s departure from South Korea while the investigation was ongoing.
The court, however, concluded that the evidence did not establish definitively that Yoon’s decision was intended to interfere with the criminal investigation.
It also pointed to the timing of Yoon’s knowledge about Lee’s circumstances. According to the court, Yoon only learned in March 2024 that Lee was subject to a travel ban, several months after the former defence minister had been selected for the diplomatic position.
The ruling also cleared five other former government officials who had faced charges in connection with the case. Among those acquitted were former National Security Adviser Cho Tae-yong and former Justice Minister Park Sung-jae.
Lee’s appointment had generated significant controversy in South Korea. He travelled to Australia in March 2024 after being appointed ambassador, but returned to the country only days later amid growing public and political criticism over his selection.
The controversy was linked to an investigation into the July 2023 death of Marine Corps Corporal Chae Su-geun during a rescue operation following heavy rainfall.
Chae died while participating in a search and rescue operation after heavy rains caused severe flooding. His death subsequently became the subject of a military investigation and a wider political dispute over whether senior officials had interfered with efforts to determine responsibility for the incident.
Investigators had alleged that officials interfered with the Marine Corps inquiry into Chae’s death and attempted to influence the handling of the case. Lee, who was defence minister at the time, became a central figure in the controversy.
The ambassador appointment subsequently became another major point of contention, with critics arguing that sending Lee overseas while he was under investigation could obstruct the inquiry.
Friday’s acquittal therefore represents a significant legal victory for Yoon in one of the cases arising from his time in office, although the former president continues to face serious legal challenges.
Yoon has remained in custody since his second arrest on July 10, 2025, and is facing multiple trials linked to his failed attempt to impose martial law in December 2024.
His declaration of martial law triggered a political crisis that ultimately led to his removal from office. The move was followed by investigations and criminal proceedings concerning allegations that Yoon sought to use the military and other state institutions to maintain his political authority.
The principal case against Yoon involves allegations that he led an insurrection through his December 2024 martial-law declaration.
That trial is currently being heard by an appellate court following a lower-court ruling that sentenced him to life imprisonment in February. Yoon has denied wrongdoing and has maintained that his actions were intended to protect the country and uphold constitutional order.
The latest acquittal does not resolve the broader legal proceedings against the former president, but it could have political and legal significance as his other cases continue.
Yoon’s presidency was marked by increasing political confrontation between his administration and the opposition-controlled National Assembly. His martial-law declaration dramatically escalated those tensions and eventually resulted in his removal from office.
The latest ruling also highlights the complexity of the investigations surrounding his administration, with courts continuing to examine the actions of Yoon and several senior officials in separate proceedings.
For Yoon, the Seoul Central District Court’s decision means that prosecutors failed to secure a conviction in the ambassador appointment case despite seeking a five-year prison term. The court’s finding that the appointment could not conclusively be regarded as an attempt to obstruct the investigation provides Yoon with a legal reprieve as he continues to fight the remaining cases against him.
The ruling is also likely to remain part of the broader public debate in South Korea over accountability for senior officials and the limits of presidential power. With several proceedings still pending, Yoon’s legal battles are expected to continue attracting significant political and public attention.
