Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was acquitted on September 11, 2026, in a case related to a marine's drowning death during a search-and-rescue operation in 2023. The Seoul Central District Court ruled it unclear whether Yoon's appointment of former Defence Minister Lee Jong-Sup as ambassador to Australia was intended to disrupt the investigation. Yoon and several other defendants, including his former Justice Minister and Presidential Security Director, were acquitted of charges that they colluded to help Mr. Lee sidestep the investigation. Prosecutors have not yet announced whether they will appeal the verdict.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-11,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was acquitted on September 11, 2026, in a case related to the drowning death of Cpl. Chae Su-geun, a marine who died during a search-and-rescue operation for flood victims in 2023. The court ruled that it was unclear whether Yoon's appointment of former Defense Minister Lee Jong-Sup as ambassador to Australia was intended to disrupt the investigation into Chae's death. Yoon claimed he appointed Lee to promote military cooperation with Canberra, and his lawyers welcomed the acquittal while urging prosecutors not to appeal. Yoon, along with several other defendants including his former Justice Minister and Presidential Security Director, were acquitted of charges that they colluded to help Lee evade investigation.
Written for “South Korea Marine Drowning Case” on 2026-09-12,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
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Leaning score +0.15 for article 7720 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-09-11
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.
asserted
Yeol → acquit → law
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. Chae Su-geun, who drowned during a search-and-rescue operation for flood victims in 2023.
asserted
who → allege → 2023
But the Seoul Central District Court ruled it was unclear whether Yoon's appointment was intended to disrupt the investigation.
uncertain
appointment → rule → investigation
Yoon said he appointed Mr. 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.
asserted
Lee → say → investigation
Prosecutors didn't immediately say whether they would appeal Friday's (September 11) verdict.
asserted
they → say → verdict
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.
asserted
commanders → allege → vests
An early investigation by the marine corps held a division commander and seven other people responsible for Chae's death.
asserted
commander → hold → death
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.
uncertain
Yoon → express → prosecutors
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. Park, who was investigated for insubordination.
asserted
who → say → insubordination
Yoon was formally removed from office in April 2025 and has faced multiple criminal trials after President Lee Jae Myung approved special investigations into his martial law imposition and several other matters, including Chae's death.
asserted
Myung → remove → death
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.
asserted
which → appeal → December
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.
asserted
quorum → last → it
