South Korea court gives ex-President Yoon suspended jail term for violating election law

SEOUL, July 27 (Reuters) – 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 ($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.

Under South Korea’s election law, political parties receive state reimbursement for campaign expenses if ⁠their presidential candidate ‌wins or secures at least 15% of the ⁠vote. If a candidate later receives a final ​election-invalidating sentence, ‌such as a jail term or a fine ​of at ⁠least 1 million won, the party must return the funds.

Yoon is also facing other criminal trials, including an insurrection case related to his December 2024 martial law declaration. In February, a lower court sentenced him to life imprisonment over the case.

($1 = 1467.3 won)

(Reporting by Kyu-seok ShimEditing ​by Ed Davies)