Yoon election-law appeal verdict set for October 27 as prosecutors seek rejection
In short
The Seoul High Court will deliver its ruling on former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's election-law appeal on October 27 at 2 p.m. Special prosecutors asked on October 13 for his appeal to be rejected and his sentence of one year and six months in prison, suspended for three years, to be upheld.
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The Seoul High Court closed arguments on October 13 in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's appeal against his conviction for publishing false information during the presidential election campaign. The court scheduled its ruling for October 27 at 2 p.m. Special prosecutors asked the judges to reject the appeal and uphold the first-instance sentence of one year and six months in prison, suspended for three years. [ 6 , 18 , 19 ]
The first-instance court found Yoon guilty of both charges in July. Prosecutors had sought two years in prison at that stage, Hankook Ilbo reported. The charges concern statements Yoon made on December 14, 2021, about introducing a lawyer to former Yongsan tax office chief Yoon Woo-jin (윤우진), and on January 17, 2022, about meeting shaman Jeon Seong-bae (전성배) with his wife, Kim Keon Hee. [ 5 , 6 ]
Prosecutors argued that Yoon's statements quieted suspicions about him and helped him retain his standing as a leading candidate. They said polling trends, the election result and the gap between the candidates' vote totals supported their view that the statements affected the outcome. They also described the relationship between Yoon, his wife and Jeon as important to voters' assessment of the candidate. [ 8 , 9 , 18 ]
Yoon's side denied that either statement constituted publishing false information and sought acquittal. In his final statement, Yoon disputed the prosecution's interpretation of his words. He said his remark about meeting Jeon had been interpreted as meaning he had never met Jeon with his wife, which he argued distorted the language he used. [ 17 , 18 ]
The case also affects the People Power Party's election expenses. If a sentence of a fine of at least 1 million won becomes final, the party must return approximately 39.7 billion won reimbursed by the National Election Commission, according to Seoul Economic Daily and Dong-A Ilbo. Korea Economic Daily reported that a final ruling upholding the first-instance sentence would invalidate Yoon's election. [ 9 , 18 , 19 ]
Why it matters
If a sentence of a fine of at least 1 million won becomes final, the People Power Party would have to return about 39.7 billion won in reimbursed presidential election expenses, the reports say. Upholding the first-instance sentence in a final ruling would also invalidate Yoon's election, according to Korea Economic Daily.
Key facts
- The appeal ruling is scheduled for October 27 at 2 p.m. [ 16 , 18 , 19 ]
- Special prosecutors asked the court to reject Yoon's appeal and uphold his suspended prison sentence. [ 6 , 7 , 18 , 19 ]
- The first-instance court found both charges guilty in July and sentenced Yoon to one year and six months in prison, suspended for three years. [ 5 , 6 ]
- Yoon's side denies that the statements amounted to publishing false information and seeks acquittal. [ 17 , 18 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- The appeal's outcome and whether the party will ultimately have to repay election expenses remain undecided. The court closed arguments and set a ruling date; the supplied reports contain no appeal verdict.