A Seoul court has sentenced former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to 18 months in prison, suspended for three years, for making false statements during his 2022 presidential campaign, violating the Public Official Election Act. The Seoul Central District Court found that Yoon lied about his connections to a shaman and denied introducing a lawyer to a former tax official during campaign interviews and a press conference.
The ruling could force Yoon's conservative People Power Party to return more than $20 million in campaign funds if the conviction is upheld on appeal, as election law requires reimbursement when candidates receive prison sentences or fines of at least 1 million won. Special prosecutors had sought a two-year prison term. Yoon's legal team said he plans to appeal.
Yoon, who was removed from office in April 2025, was separately sentenced to 30 years in prison in June for sending military drones over Pyongyang and received a life sentence in February 2026 for abuse of power and inciting rebellion.