It was learned on the 2nd that a notice of withdrawal was filed in a damages lawsuit brought by about 10,000 citizens against former President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife, Kim Keon-hee, claiming they suffered psychological harm from the Dec. 3 martial law.

Former President Yoon Suk-yeol and First Lady Kim Keon-hee finish voting at the Seocho 4-dong Precinct 3 polling station set up at Wonmyeong Elementary School in Seocho District, Seoul, on the morning of June 3, the 21st presidential election day, and are moving to a vehicle. /Courtesy of News1

Attorney Kim Kyung-ho of the Hoein Law Office, representing the citizens, filed a notice to withdraw the suit with the Civil Division 20 of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Lee Sera) on the 1st.

Kim said the reason for withdrawing the suit was the court's order to amend. In a Facebook post the same day, Kim said, "The court issued a strict order to amend (regarding the plaintiff citizens' list), including hyphen (-) notation in resident registration numbers, addresses, and seal impressions, and also issued an additional order to amend." However, the lawsuit appears likely to be refiled soon. In the same post, Kim said, "We will file the lawsuit again with a different panel."

Regarding this, an attorney who previously served as a presiding judge said, "In lawsuits conducted by recruiting a large number of participants, courts often issue orders to amend regarding personal information or seal impressions to confirm whether each plaintiff clearly intends to join the suit and whether the litigants actually exist."

Filed on Aug. 19, this lawsuit was the first damages suit to name former President Yoon and his wife, Kim, as co-defendants in connection with the Dec. 3 martial law. Initially, about 12,200 citizens sought compensation of 100,000 won per person, totaling 1.2 billion won, but recently about 3,000 more joined. When filing the suit, Kim said, "Media reports are saying that the substantive motive of the Dec. 3 martial law was to cover up the 'Kim Keon-hee risk,'" adding, "(Kim) bears responsibility as a substantive joint tortfeasor."

Meanwhile, earlier, in the first trial of a damages suit filed by 104 citizens against former President Yoon claiming psychological harm from the declaration of martial law, the Seoul Central District Court on Jul. 25 ordered former President Yoon to pay 100,000 won each in consolation money to the citizens. Former President Yoon appealed the ruling.

※ This article has been translated by AI. Share your feedback here.