South Korean ex-president receives suspended sentence for campaign law violations

A Seoul court has handed former South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol a suspended prison sentence for election law violations during his 2022 presidential campaign. The District Court in Seoul found Yoon guilty of disseminating false information while running as a candidate for the main opposition People Power Party (PPP).

The court imposed an 18-month prison sentence, suspended for three years. If the ruling becomes final and includes a fine of at least one million won (approximately 596 euros), the PPP would be obligated to return 39.7 billion won (23.67 million euros) to the state. This amount represents public funds reimbursed to the PPP for campaign expenses.

Yoon served as president from 2022 to 2025. His presidency ended after he declared martial law in December 2024, leading to his impeachment by parliament and confirmation by the constitutional court in April 2025. He became the second South Korean president in history to be removed from office. In separate legal proceedings related to the martial law declaration, Yoon received a life sentence in February 2026 for leading a rebellion. He also faces a seven-year prison sentence, confirmed by the Supreme Court in July, for obstructing justice and falsifying documents during the martial law period.