Democratic Party presses PPP to return W39.7 billion in election funds ahead of Yoon appeal ruling

With the appeal ruling in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's Public Official Election Act violation case expected this week, the Democratic Party of Korea is pressing the People Power Party to return 39.7 billion won ($29.7 million) in reimbursed campaign expenses.

Democratic Party spokesperson Lee Yong-woo said in a written briefing Sunday that the appeal sentencing in Yoon's election law case would be broadcast live, welcoming what Lee called the court's decision to open the full proceedings to the public.

Lee cited two statements Yoon made during the presidential campaign: that Yoon had never introduced a lawyer to Yun Woo-jin, the former head of the Yongsan Tax Office, and that Yoon had never met Jeon Seong-bae — known by the Buddhist title "Geonjin Beopsa" — together with Yoon's wife, Kim Keon Hee, a claim Yoon made in a media interview. "The first-instance court found both statements to be false and sentenced Yoon to one year and six months in prison, suspended for three years — a sentence that voids the election," Lee said.

Lee said courts have held that even indirect denials framed as "I don't recall" can constitute the publication of false facts if the intent is to deny the truth. "All the more so, Yoon flatly denied the facts outright — saying there was no introduction, that there was no meeting — and cannot escape a guilty verdict," Lee said.

Lee also urged the appeals court to strictly uphold the first-instance ruling and hold Yoon clearly accountable for power obtained through lies.

Lee said Yoon had committed a serious election crime by deceiving voters to reach the presidency and stripping citizens of their right to choose. "If a guilty verdict is confirmed again, the PPP must return the 39.7 billion won in election expenses reimbursed with taxpayer money, and above all must apologize to the public for fielding a fraudulent candidate," Lee said.

The Seoul High Court's Criminal Division 2-1 is set to hold the appeal sentencing in Yoon's Public Official Election Act case at 2 p.m. Wednesday.

The court approved a broadcast of the proceedings after accepting a request from the special prosecutor team investigating Kim Keon Hee.

Whether the PPP must return the 39.7 billion won in previously reimbursed election expenses will be determined by the outcome of the appeal ruling.