Former Prosecutor General Yoon Dae-jin, a close confidant during his active service, appeared at the trial of former President Yoon Suk Yeol on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act and provided testimony favorable to the former president.

Testifying as a witness at the appellate trial of former President Yoon held today (September 29) by Criminal Division 2-1 of the Seoul High Court (Presiding Judges Baek Seung-yeop, Hwang Seung-tae, and Kim Young-hyun), former Prosecutor General Yoon stated that it was he who connected his older brother, former Yongsan Tax Office Chief Yoon Woo-jin, with attorney Lee, a former official of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office Central Investigation Department.

Former President Yoon and former Prosecutor General Yoon were together called "Daeyun" (Big Yoon) and "Soyun" (Little Yoon), respectively, after handling major high-profile investigations within the prosecution service.

He explained, "My brother was having a hard time because he was under various investigations at the time, and it was inappropriate for me (as a serving prosecutor) to give advice or create expectations. I told attorney Lee, 'I would appreciate it if you could consult with him and offer some legal advice,' and gave him my brother's phone number."

When former President Yoon's legal team asked, "Are you certain that you were the one who found and connected attorney Lee to Yoon Woo-jin?" he replied, "I had him consult with the defense counsel because I did not want to be bothered with the case involving my brother back then."

This contrasts with the indictment charge that former President Yoon introduced a lawyer to former Tax Office Chief Yoon Woo-jin and then lied about it during a debate when he was a presidential candidate, stating that he "never introduced anyone."

The special counsel team led by Min Joong-ki maintains that former President Yoon was indeed the person who introduced the lawyer, based on facts such as former President Yoon admitting to the lawyer introduction during a phone call with a journalist in 2012, and a text message sent by attorney Lee to former Tax Office Chief Yoon which read, "I am sending this message in advance following the words of Division Head Yoon Suk Yeol."

On the other hand, former President Yoon's defense counsel has argued that while former Prosecutor General Yoon was the actual person who introduced the lawyer, the former president merely told attorney Lee to "use my name" out of concern that former Prosecutor General Yoon would find himself in a difficult position if the fact became known.

Former President Yoon's defense attorney reiterated during the hearing, "The defendant exaggerating during a 2012 phone call with a reporter as if he had introduced the lawyer himself appears to have been an attempt to deflect suspicions that would have otherwise fallen on the witness (Yoon Dae-jin)."

Directly examining former Prosecutor General Yoon, former President Yoon said, "You must be busy with many things, and I am truly sorry to have caused you concern."

The court postponed the sentencing procedures originally scheduled for today to October 13.

Former President Yoon was indicted on charges of publicizing false information contrary to the truth when he stated during an invitation debate hosted by the Kwanhun Club on December 14, 2021, while running as a presidential candidate, that he "had never introduced a lawyer to former Yongsan Tax Office Chief Yoon Woo-jin."

He is also charged with publicizing false facts during an interview at the launching ceremony of the Buddhism Leaders Forum on January 17, 2022, to the effect that "I was introduced to Jeon Seong-bae, known as Geomjin-beopsa, by a party official, and I have never met him together with Keonhee."

Earlier, the first instance court found all charges guilty and sentenced him to one year and six months in prison with a three-year suspension of execution.

If this sentence is finalized, the People Power Party will have to return 39.7 billion KRW in election expenses reimbursed by the National Election Commission during the 20th presidential election.

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