Will PPP Have to Return 39.7 Billion Won in Election Expenses? Yoon Suk-yeol's 1st-Trial Verdict for 'Public Official Election Act Violation' Tomorrow

Tomorrow at 2:00 PM (July 27), the 21st Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Cho Soon-pyo) will hold the first-trial sentencing hearing for former President Yoon Suk-yeol on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act.

The sentencing will be broadcast live.

If former President Yoon receives a finalized sentence of a fine of 1 million won or more in this case, the People Power Party will have to return 39.7 billion won, including election expenses reimbursed at the time, to the National Election Commission.

This is in accordance with the provisions of the Public Official Election Act, which stipulate that individuals whose election is invalidated due to election crimes must return the amounts reimbursed by the Election Commission.

Previously, former President Yoon was indicted in December of last year on charges of making false statements during a Kwanhun Club invitation debate on December 14, 2021, when he was a presidential candidate, to the effect that he "never introduced lawyer Lee (formerly of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office Central Investigation Department) to former police station chief Yoon Woo-jin."

He is also charged with publicizing false information during an interview at the inauguration ceremony of the Buddhism Leaders Forum on January 17, 2022, to the effect that "he was introduced to Geonjinbeopsa Jeon Seong-bae by a party official and has never met him together with Mrs. Kim."

During the sentencing hearing held last month, the special prosecutor team led by Min Joong-ki demanded a two-year prison sentence for former President Yoon.

Meanwhile, courts of all levels across the country, including the Seoul Central District Court and the Seoul High Court, will enter a two-week summer recess starting today until August 7.

However, major cases indicted by the three special prosecutor teams (concerning the insurrection, Kim Keon-hee, and the death of a Marine) will proceed with normal trials.

This is to maintain swift proceedings in accordance with the 6-3-3 rule under the Special Prosecutor Act, which mandates that the first trial be sentenced within 6 months and the second and third trials within 3 months each.
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.