South Korean court acquits former president Yoon Suk Yeol in political funds appeal
In short
The Seoul High Court acquitted former South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol on October 7 in the appeal of a case under the Political Funds Act, overturning his first-instance conviction. Prosecutors had alleged he and his wife Kim Keon Hee received 58 opinion polls worth about 270 million won free of charge from political broker Myung Tae-kyun between June 2021 and March 2022. Kim was acquitted in both the first and second instances in a separate case that is now before the Supreme Court.
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The Seoul High Court acquitted former president Yoon Suk Yeol on October 7 in the second-instance ruling of a case under the Political Funds Act, according to the reports. The verdict overturns his first-instance conviction. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Prosecutors had alleged that Yoon, together with his wife Kim Keon Hee, received 58 opinion polls free of charge from political broker Myung Tae-kyun between June 2021 and March 2022, with a value equivalent to 270 million won. At the closing hearing of the appeal, prosecutors said the polls were manipulated and that their results favoured Yoon, and that he not only received the surveys from Myung but also discussed survey methods with him. They described the conduct as seriously damaging to democracy and to the transparency and fairness of the process by which parties select candidates. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The first-instance court found that 14 of the 58 polls cited by prosecutors were substantiated, held the charge established, and sentenced Yoon to two years in prison and the forfeiture of more than 13.96 million won, or about 63,000 yuan. Kim Keon Hee was charged on the same suspicion in a separate case; she was acquitted in both the first and second instances, and that case is now being heard by South Korea’s Supreme Court. [ 2 , 3 ]
The documents do not set out the appellate court’s reasons for the acquittal, and they do not say whether prosecutors will take the case further. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The ruling clears a former head of state in a case brought over free polling services during a campaign period, and it comes from an appellate court after a first-instance conviction. It leaves the separate case against his wife still open at South Korea’s top court, so the legal proceedings around the couple are not finished. The documents do not state what wider political consequences, if any, the acquittal has.
Key facts
- The Seoul High Court acquitted former president Yoon Suk Yeol on October 7 in the second-instance ruling of a case under the Political Funds Act. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Prosecutors alleged Yoon and his wife Kim Keon Hee jointly received 58 opinion polls free of charge from political broker Myung Tae-kyun between June 2021 and March 2022, worth the equivalent of 270 million won. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Prosecutors said the polls were manipulated to favour Yoon and that he discussed survey methods with Myung, and described the alleged conduct as seriously damaging to democracy and to the transparency and fairness of party candidate selection. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The first-instance court found 14 of the 58 polls substantiated, convicted Yoon, sentenced him to two years in prison and ordered the forfeiture of more than 13.96 million won (about 63,000 yuan). [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Kim Keon Hee was charged separately on the same suspicion, was acquitted in both the first and second instances, and that case is being heard by South Korea’s Supreme Court. [ 2 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The Seoul High Court acquitted former president Yoon Suk Yeol on October 7 in the second-instance ruling of the Political Funds Act case. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Prosecutors alleged Yoon and Kim Keon Hee received 58 free opinion polls worth about 270 million won from Myung Tae-kyun between June 2021 and March 2022. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The first-instance court convicted Yoon, sentencing him to two years in prison and ordering forfeiture of more than 13.96 million won. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Kim Keon Hee was acquitted in both instances in a separate case that is now before the Supreme Court. [ 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- The appellate court’s reasons for acquitting Yoon are not given. None of the documents state the High Court’s reasoning; they report the verdict and the prosecution’s allegations only.
- Whether prosecutors will appeal the acquittal to the Supreme Court is not stated. The documents do not say whether a further appeal is planned or possible.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- CLS reports that the Seoul High Court acquitted former president Yoon Suk Yeol in the second-instance ruling of the Political Funds Act case. [ 1 ]
- Yicai reports the acquittal and adds details of the first-instance conviction and the separate case against Kim Keon Hee. [ 2 ]
- China News Service reports the acquittal with the same background and a reporter byline. [ 3 ]