Yoon Suk Yeol found guilty of violating election law; PPP faces $27 mil. repayment

People watch a live television broadcast of former President Yoon Suk Yeol's trial verdict on charges of making false statements at Seoul Station, Monday. Yonhap

Ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol was sentenced Monday to 18 months in prison, suspended for three years, for making false statements during the 2022 presidential campaign, a ruling that would require the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) to return 39.7 billion won ($27.05 million) in campaign reimbursements.

Yoon, the PPP's candidate in the March 2022 presidential election, was indicted in December 2025 on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act by allegedly making false statements during the campaign.

Under the Public Official Election Act, a candidate whose election is invalidated after receiving a disqualifying sentence for an election-related offense must return any campaign reimbursements paid by the National Election Commission (NEC).

The ruling drew particular attention, as the PPP would be required to return 39.7 billion won in campaign expense reimbursements to the NEC if Yoon was ordered to pay a fine of 1 million won ($720) or more.

Prosecutors said that during a Kwanhun Club forum on Dec. 14, 2021, Yoon falsely claimed he had never introduced a lawyer, identified only by his surname Lee, to a former chief of a district tax office.

Another charge concerns remarks he made during an interview at the launch ceremony of the Buddhist Leaders Forum on Jan. 17, 2022.

He allegedly falsely stated that a PPP official had introduced him to shaman Jeon Seong-bae, better known as "Geonjin Beopsa," and that former first lady Kim Keon Hee had never met Jeon together with him.

According to the special counsel team, Yoon had in fact introduced the lawyer to the former district tax office chief and first met Jeon through Kim, maintaining ties with the shaman for more than a decade.

At the final hearing last month, special prosecutors argued that Yoon's false statements helped quell various controversies surrounding him and gave him an advantage in the presidential election.

They sought a two-year prison sentence.

Yoon's legal team has denied the allegations, arguing that he answered questions truthfully based on his recollection and understanding in order to satisfy the public's right to know, rather than intentionally spreading false information.