Yoon Sentenced to 1 Year and 6 Months in Prison with 3-Year Suspension; PPP Liable to Return W39.7 Billion If Ruling Finalized

Former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who stood trial on charges of publicizing false information during the 20th presidential election, has received a prison sentence with a suspended execution in his first trial.

If this sentence is finalized, the People Power Party (PPP) must return 39.7 billion won in election expenses reimbursed by the government during the presidential election to the National Election Commission.

The 21st Criminal Settlement Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Cho Soon-pyo) sentenced former President Yoon, who was indicted on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act, to one year and six months in prison with a three-year suspension today (July 27).

The court recognized as guilty former President Yoon's charge of stating false information to the effect that "he never introduced attorney Lee (a former Supreme Prosecutors' Office Central Investigation Department official) to former Police Station Chief Yoon Woo-jin" during the Kwanhun Club roundtable discussion on December 14, 2021, when he was a presidential candidate.

It also ruled as guilty the charge of publicizing false information to the effect that "he was introduced to Jeon Seong-bae, known as 'Geonjinbeopsa', by a party official and has never met him together with First Lady Kim" during an interview at the launching ceremony of the Buddhism Leaders Forum on January 17, 2022.

This accepts the investigation results from the special prosecutor team led by Min Joong-ki, which concluded that former President Yoon actually introduced attorney Lee to former Chief Yoon and first met Jeon through First Lady Kim, maintaining a relationship for over 10 years.

According to the Public Official Election Act, if a presidential candidate wins or receives 15 percent or more of the vote, the Election Commission reimburses the full amount of election expenses.

However, if a sentence invalidating the election (a fine of 1 million won or more) is subsequently handed down and finalized, the political party must return the entire amount.

(Photo provided by Seoul Central District Court, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.