A Seoul court ruled that former South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol is guilty of spreading false information during the 2022 presidential election campaign. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for three years. If the verdict becomes final, the People Power Party (PPP) may have to return 39.7 billion won, approximately 906 million baht, in campaign funding. Meanwhile, Yoon is still serving a life sentence in another case related to charges of rebellion.
The Seoul Central District Court found former President Yoon Suk-yeol guilty of violating election laws by providing false information during the 2022 presidential campaign. The court sentenced him to 18 months in prison but suspended the sentence for three years.
This ruling could heavily impact the People Power Party (PPP), Yoon's party at the time of his candidacy. If the verdict is upheld on appeal and by the Supreme Court, the party will have to repay 39.7 billion won—about 906 million baht—that South Korea's National Election Commission reimbursed as campaign expenses after Yoon's 2022 election victory.
Under South Korean law, candidates sentenced to imprisonment or fined 1 million won or more for election-related offenses are disqualified from election results. Political parties receiving state campaign funding must return all such funds if the verdict is enforced.
The case originated from a special prosecutor's lawsuit led by Min Joong-ki, accusing Yoon of spreading false information during the campaign, particularly denying that he had recommended a lawyer to a former tax official suspected of bribery.
Additionally, Yoon was accused of giving false statements in January 2022, claiming he did not know or meet with Cheon Seong-bae, a shaman involved in political circles introduced by his wife, Kim Keon-hee. He asserted that only party officials had made the introduction.
However, the court found the prosecution's evidence sufficient to prove that Yoon did recommend a lawyer to the tax official and met the shaman through his wife's introduction. This was deemed to constitute spreading false information to the public during the election.
The court stated in its ruling, "The offense is serious because it involves disseminating false information on issues of great public interest, affecting voters' ability to make decisions based on facts." Yoon Suk-yeol's legal team announced plans to appeal immediately, citing multiple factual and legal errors in the verdict.
This ruling is another significant case for the 65-year-old former leader, who faces several prosecutions following his failed attempt to declare martial law in December 2024. He ordered the military to seize control of the National Assembly building before lawmakers voted to revoke martial law within six hours, leading to his impeachment.
Earlier in February, Yoon was sentenced to life imprisonment by a lower court for rebellion related to the martial law incident and is currently appealing that verdict.
If upheld, this election case ruling could cause both political damage to Yoon Suk-yeol and severe financial consequences for the People Power Party. The nearly 39.7 billion won in campaign expense reimbursement represents about one-third of the party's total assets, according to filings with the National Election Commission.