Tomorrow at 2:00 PM (July 27), Criminal Settlement Division 21 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 ruling 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 be required to return 39.7 billion won, which includes election expenses reimbursed at the time, to the National Election Commission.

This is in accordance with Public Official Election Act regulations stipulating that individuals whose election invalidation sentences are finalized for election crimes must return the amounts reimbursed by the election commission.

Previously, former President Yoon was put on trial in December of last year on charges of making false statements—to the effect that "he never introduced lawyer Lee (formerly of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office Central Investigation Department) to former Yongsan Police Station Chief Yoon Woo-jin"—during a Kwanhun Club-invited debate on December 14, 2021, when he was a presidential candidate.

He is also accused of publicizing false facts during an interview at the launch ceremony of the Buddhism Leaders Forum on January 17, 2022, to the effect that "he was introduced to Jeon Seong-bae, known as Geomjinbeopsa, by a party official and has never met him together with First Lady 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 (regarding the insurrection, Kim Keon-hee, and the death of a Marine) will proceed with trials normally.

This is to maintain swift proceedings in accordance with the 6-3-3 rule under the special prosecutor acts, which mandates that the first trial be sentenced within six months and the second and third trials within three months each.