A South Korean court on Monday sentenced former president Yoon Suk Yeol to 18 months in prison, suspended for three years, after finding him guilty of making false statements during his 2022 presidential campaign.
The ruling, if upheld after appeals, could trigger further political consequences for Yoon’s People Power Party, which may be required to return 39.7 billion won (US$27.1 million) in campaign expenses reimbursed by the National Election Commission following his presidential election victory.
The Seoul Central District Court found that Yoon made false claims during the 2022 election campaign when he denied introducing a lawyer to a former tax official and rejected allegations that he and former first lady Kim Keon Hee had met shaman Jeon Seong-bae.
The court agreed with prosecutors’ arguments that Yoon had introduced the lawyer to the former official and had maintained a long-standing relationship with Jeon after initially meeting him through Kim.
“When a candidate personally announces false information at public events with a large impact, such as debates and interviews, the effect on voters’ decision-making is very significant,” the court said in its ruling.
Prosecutors had sought a two-year prison sentence, arguing that Yoon’s comments reduced scrutiny of the allegations during the presidential race.
Yoon, who has denied wrongdoing, will appeal the verdict, his legal counsel said in a statement.
Under South Korea’s election law, political parties receive government reimbursement for campaign expenses if their presidential candidate wins or secures at least 15% of the vote. However, parties must return the funds if a candidate later receives a final conviction that invalidates the election, including a jail sentence or a fine of at least 1 million won.
The latest ruling adds to Yoon’s growing legal challenges. He is also facing other criminal trials, including an insurrection case linked to his December 2024 declaration of martial law.
In February, a lower court sentenced him to life imprisonment over the insurrection case, further deepening the former president’s political and legal troubles.
Reuters
