1st Trial Ruling on 'False Statements in Presidential Election'... 'Return of 39.7 Billion Won' at Stake

[Anchor]

The first-instance ruling will be delivered today (July 27) for former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was indicted on charges of making false statements during the 2022 presidential election. The ruling, scheduled to be broadcast live starting at 2:00 PM, could force the People Power Party to return 39.7 billion won in election expenses if a fine of 1 million won or more is finalized against former President Yoon.

This is legal affairs specialist reporter Im Chanjong.

[Reporter]

The charges of violating the Public Official Election Act against former President Yoon Suk Yeol involve two specific statements.

The first statement was made during a Kwanhun Club invited debate on December 14, 2021.

At the event, former President Yoon stated to the effect that he had never introduced a lawyer surnamed Lee, formerly with the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, to Yoon Woo-jin, former head of the Yongsan Tax Office, who was under police investigation in the past. Prosecutors argue this statement does not accord with the facts.

[Yoon Suk Yeol / Former President (December 2021): "His younger brother is also a current prosecutor, and I was not in a position where I needed to introduce a lawyer or anything like that."]hr

The second statement relates to Jeon Sung-bae, also known as Geonjin Beopsa.

In an interview in January 2022, former President Yoon stated to the effect that he was introduced to Jeon Sung-bae by a party official and had never met him together with Kim Keon-hee. Prosecutors claim this was also a false statement.

The independent counsel team investigating Kim Keon-hee concluded that both statements constitute the crime of publishing false information under the Public Official Election Act, indicted former President Yoon last December, and demanded a two-year prison sentence during the sentencing hearing held last month.

Former President Yoon has denied all charges throughout the trial proceedings.

Criminal Division 21 of the Seoul Central District Court, which is handling the first-instance trial, will deliver its ruling starting at 2:00 PM today, and the sentencing proceedings are scheduled to be broadcast live via television and other media.

If a fine of 1 million won or more is finalized against former President Yoon in this case, the People Power Party, which nominated him, must return a total of 39.7 billion won, including election expenses reimbursed in connection with the 2022 presidential election, to the National Election Commission.

[Video Editing: Lee Sang-min]
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.