What charges is former President Yoon Suk Yeol facing over Lee Jong-sup’s appointment to Australia?

Yoon is charged with aiding a criminal’s flight and abuse of power. Prosecutors say he ordered Lee Jong-sup’s appointment as ambassador to Australia to help him avoid an investigation tied to the Marine death cover-up case.

When was the Seoul court expected to rule on Yoon Suk Yeol’s ambassador appointment trial?

The Seoul Central District Court was scheduled to deliver its ruling at 2 p.m. on Friday. The case is part of the wider legal battles Yoon is facing over martial law, his wife’s alleged corruption, and the Marine death case.

Why did prosecutors say Yoon appointed Lee Jong-sup as ambassador to Australia?

The special counsel team says Yoon appointed Lee in November 2023 to stop the investigation from reaching Lee and to shield him from scrutiny over the alleged cover-up of a Marine’s death. Lee Jong-sup later left for Australia in March 2024 and returned days afterward amid the backlash.

Court to rule on ex-President Yoon's trial over appointment of former envoy to Australia

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Summary

A Seoul court was set to rule Friday on former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s trial over charges that he helped former Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup evade a criminal investigation by appointing him ambassador to Australia in 2023. The Seoul Central District Court was scheduled to announce the ruling at 2 p.m. Special counsel Lee Myeong-hyeon sought a five-year prison sentence for Yoon. Prosecutors also recommended prison terms for former National Security Adviser Cho Tae-yong and former Justice Minister Park Sung-jae in the same case.

Key Facts

Yoon is accused of ordering Lee Jong-sup’s appointment as ambassador to Australia in November 2023.
The alleged goal was to help Lee evade an investigation into the cover-up of a Marine’s death earlier that year.
Lee Jong-sup left for Australia in March 2024 but returned only days later after the controversy.
Special counsel Lee Myeong-hyeon’s team sought a five-year prison sentence for Yoon.
The team also recommended three-year prison terms for former National Security Adviser Cho Tae-yong and former Justice Minister Park Sung-jae.

By Yonhap

Published Sep 11, 2026 9:29 am KST

Former President Yoon Suk Yeol, left, and former Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup are seen at the presidential office in central Seoul, Sept. 12, 2023. Yonhap

A Seoul court was set to rule Friday on former President Yoon Suk Yeol's charges of helping a former defense minister evade a criminal investigation by appointing him as ambassador to Australia in 2023.

The Seoul Central District Court was scheduled to hand down its ruling for Yoon's trial on charges of aiding a criminal's flight and abuse of power at 2 p.m.

Special counsel Lee Myeong-hyeon's team has sought a five-year prison sentence for Yoon.

Yoon is accused of ordering the appointment of former Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup as ambassador to Australia in November 2023 to help him evade an investigation into the alleged cover-up of a Marine's death earlier that year.

The special counsel team suspects the former president tried to send Lee, a key suspect in the cover-up case, abroad to prevent the investigation from reaching him as well.

The former defense minister left for Australia in March 2024 but returned only days after due to the controversy.

The special counsel team also recommended three-year prison terms for former National Security Adviser Cho Tae-yong and former Justice Minister Park Sung-jae, who were among five other officials indicted in the case.

All five are accused of playing a role in the former defense minister's appointment and departure to Australia at Yoon's orders.

Yoon has been standing multiple trials in connection with his failed bid to impose martial law in 2024, his wife's alleged corruption and the case of the Marine's death.

The main trial on charges that he led an insurrection through his martial law bid is under way at an appellate court after a lower court sentenced him to life in prison in February.

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