Former South Korean President Yoon Handed Suspended Prison Sentence in Election Law Case

GOOBJOOG NEWS|SEOUL, South Korea — 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 making false statements during his successful 2022 presidential election campaign.

The Seoul Central District Court ruled that Yoon knowingly made misleading remarks during the campaign by denying allegations about his links to a lawyer involved in a corruption investigation and downplaying his association with a controversial shaman who had reportedly been connected to his inner circle through former First Lady Kim Keon Hee. The court said the false statements could have affected voters’ ability to make an informed decision.

Although the sentence was suspended, the conviction carries significant political implications. Under South Korea’s election laws, if the ruling is upheld on appeal, Yoon’s former party, the conservative People Power Party, could be required to repay approximately 39.7 billion won (about $27 million) in state campaign reimbursements received following his 2022 election victory.

Yoon’s legal team has announced plans to appeal the verdict.

The election law case is separate from several other criminal proceedings facing the former president. Yoon was removed from office after his impeachment was upheld in 2025 following his controversial declaration of martial law in December 2024. He remains in custody and is facing multiple additional trials related to that episode, including a separate conviction in earlier proceedings.

The latest judgment adds to the legal challenges confronting the former leader and deepens uncertainty for the conservative People Power Party, which could face both financial and political repercussions if the conviction becomes final.