Former South Korean President Sentenced to Prison for Election Lies

A South Korean court has sentenced former President Yoon Suk-yeol to 18 months in prison for electoral law violations, specifically for lying during his campaign for the March 2022 presidential election, which he ultimately won. The ruling, reported by local news agency Yonhap, carries significant implications for his party.

The People Power Party (PPP) may be required to return approximately 40 billion won (about 24 million euros) in campaign expenses. Under South Korean law, political parties that secure over 15% of the vote in a presidential election can reclaim campaign costs. However, these funds must be repaid if the candidate receives a fine exceeding one million won or is convicted of electoral offenses.

Yoon's conviction is based on at least two instances of deception. In 2021, he falsely denied connecting a lawyer with a tax official, when in fact he had facilitated such a contact. Additionally, in 2022, he denied meeting with a religious leader alongside his wife, despite evidence showing his wife had introduced them.

The former president's defense team has announced its intention to appeal the sentence, indicating the case could proceed to the Supreme Court as early as January of the following year. This latest conviction follows a February ruling that sentenced Yoon to life imprisonment for attempting to impose martial law in South Korea in December 2024, a decision that led to his impeachment.