Special Counsel Asks Appeals Court to Uphold Sentence That Would Void Yoon Suk Yeol's Past Election Victory

The special counsel team led by Special Prosecutor Min Joong-ki has asked the appeals court to uphold the same sentence that would invalidate former President Yoon Suk Yeol's past election victory in his trial on charges of making false statements during his presidential campaign.

During the appellate sentencing hearing held on October 13 by the Criminal Division 2-1 of the Seoul High Court (Presiding Judges Baek Seung-yeop, Hwang Seung-tae, and Kim Young-hyun), the special counsel team told the court to "dismiss the defendant's appeal."

The first instance court sentenced former President Yoon to a prison term with probation.

If this sentence is finalized, former President Yoon's election victory will be invalidated, and the People Power Party will have to return 39.7 billion won in election expenses reimbursed from the presidential election.

According to the Public Official Election Act, if a presidential candidate is elected or receives 15 percent or more of the votes, the Election Commission reimburses the full election expenses. However, if a sentence of a fine of 1 million won or more is finalized later for an election crime, the election becomes void, and the political party must return the election expenses.

The special counsel team pointed out, "Following the defendant's statements that formed the basis of the indictment during the 20th presidential election, various suspicions subsided, and the defendant maintained his status as a leading presidential candidate," adding, "Given the trend in approval ratings, election results, and vote share margins, it is reasonable to view that the crime in this case influenced the election outcome."

They also noted, "Considering the circumstances at the time when controversies surrounding his spouse and shamanism continued, the relationship between the defendant and his wife and Jeon Sung-bae, known as 'Geonjin Beobsa,' was a very critical matter that affected voters' judgment of the candidate." They added, "Nevertheless, the defendant has continued to change his statements even during the trial, deceiving the public and the court."

Former President Yoon is accused of publicizing false facts to the effect that "he was introduced to Jeon Sung-bae, known as Geonjin Beobsa, by a party official and has never met him together with Keonhee" during an interview at the launch ceremony of the Buddhism Leaders Forum on January 17, 2022, while he was the presidential candidate of the People Power Party.

He is also accused of publicizing false facts to the effect that "he has never introduced lawyer Lee, formerly of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, to Yoon Woo-jin, former head of the Yongsan Tax Office," during an invitational debate hosted by the Kwanhun Club on December 14, 2021.

Former Tax Office Head Yoon is the older brother of former Prosecutor General Yoon Dae-jin, a close associate of former President Yoon during his days as a prosecutor.

The special counsel team believes that former President Yoon actually introduced legal counsel but made statements contrary to the facts out of concern over a drop in his approval ratings.

The first instance court found all of former President Yoon's charges guilty and sentenced him to one year and six months in prison with three years of probation.
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.