An appeals court upheld former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s conviction for violating the Public Official Election Act, maintaining a sentence of 18 months in prison suspended for three years. The Seoul High Court found that Yoon made false statements about introducing a lawyer to former Yongsan tax chief Yoon Woo-jin and about his relationship with spiritual adviser Jeon Seong-bae.
The court said the statements could affect voters’ assessments of a candidate’s integrity, fairness and the possibility of unofficial influence over government. If the ruling becomes final, the People Power Party would have to return about 39.756 billion won in reimbursed campaign expenses, while Yoon’s legal team has said it will appeal.