Former South Korea president Yoon handed suspended term over campaign lies

Ruling adds to legal troubles for ousted leader who was sentenced to life in prison for insurrection earlier this year

A South Korean court on Monday sentenced former president Yoon Suk-yeol to 18 months in prison, suspended for three years, after finding him guilty of violating the election law by making false statements during his 2022 presidential campaign.

The sentence, if upheld through appeals, could force Yoon’s People Power Party to return 39.7 billion won (US$27.1 million) in election expenses reimbursed by the National Election Commission following his presidential election victory.

The Seoul Central District Court found Yoon made false statements during the 2022 presidential campaign when he denied introducing a lawyer to a former tax official and claimed he and his wife, former first lady Kim Keon-hee, had not met shaman Jeon Seong-bae. Both relationships had come under scrutiny during the election campaign.

The court accepted prosecutors’ arguments that Yoon had introduced the lawyer to the former official and maintained a long-standing relationship with Jeon after first meeting him through Kim.

“When a candidate personally announces false information at public events with a large impact, such as debates and interviews, the effect on voters’ decision making is very significant,” the court said in its ruling.

Prosecutors had sought a two-year prison term, arguing Yoon’s remarks helped ease scrutiny of the allegations during the presidential race. Yoon, who had denied any wrongdoing, plans to appeal the verdict, his legal counsel said in a statement.