OMM Newsroom
South Korea’s 2022 presidential election could be invalidated after an appeals court upheld a suspended prison sentence for former President Yoon Suk Yeol over election-law violations, Anadolu Agency reported.
The Seoul High Court on Wednesday upheld a lower court ruling sentencing Yoon to 18 months in prison, suspended for three years, for making false statements during his presidential campaign, according to Yonhap News Agency.
If the verdict becomes final, Yoon’s election would be nullified and his People Power Party (PPP) would have to repay 39.7 billion won ($29.6 million) in state-reimbursed campaign expenses.
Yoon’s lawyers said they would appeal to the Supreme Court.
Appeals court cites false statements during campaign
The court found Yoon guilty of falsely denying that he had introduced a lawyer to a former tax official during a press event in December 2021.
He was also convicted of making false statements about his ties to shaman Jeon Seong-bae during an interview in January 2022.
The court said the statements infringed on voters’ right to make informed choices and undermined electoral fairness.
Under South Korean election law, parties must return reimbursed campaign funds if their candidate receives a final prison sentence or a fine exceeding 1 million won for election violations. Such penalties also invalidate the candidate’s election.
Yoon is appealing life sentence for insurrection
Yoon was removed from office following his failed declaration of martial law in December 2024. In February, he was sentenced to life imprisonment for leading an insurrection; that conviction is under appeal.
