Former President Yoon Suk Yeol received a suspended prison sentence in his appeal trial Wednesday over charges of making false statements during the 20th presidential election campaign — the same outcome as his first trial. If the conviction and sentence are ultimately upheld, the People Power Party, which Yoon belonged to, will be required to return 39.7 billion won ($29.6 million) in reimbursed election expenses to the National Election Commission.
The Seoul High Court's Criminal Division 2-1, presided over by Judges Baek Seung-yeop, Hwang Seung-tae and Kim Yeong-hyeon, upheld the first-trial sentence of one year and six months in prison, suspended for three years.
Yoon faces charges of publicly stating false facts on two occasions. At a Kwanhun Club debate in December 2021, while a presidential candidate, he denied having introduced attorney Lee Nam-seok to Yoon Woo-jin — the former head of the Yongsan Tax Office and brother of then-prosecutor Yoon Dae-jin — in connection with a criminal case, despite having done so. Yoon also faces charges stemming from a January 2022 statement to reporters in which he denied having met Buddhist monk Jeon Seong-bae, known as Geonjin Beopsa, multiple times together with his wife, Kim Keon Hee — again contrary to the facts.
The case is expected to be finalized only after the Supreme Court issues its ruling, as the special prosecutor team for the Kim Keon Hee investigation, led by Special Prosecutor Min Joong-ki, and Yoon's legal team remain sharply at odds.
notstrong@heraldcorp.com
