Appeals court acquits ex-President Yoon in 'free opinion polls' case
Summary
The Seoul High Court acquitted former President Yoon Suk Yeol in Seoul on Wednesday, overturning his conviction for receiving free opinion polls before the 2022 presidential election. The court ruled that the polls did not constitute political donations because they lacked a quantifiable property benefit and found insufficient evidence of an agreement. It also acquitted Myung Tae-kyun, who provided the polls.
Key Facts
- Yoon had been accused of receiving 58 opinion polls worth about 270 million won in total from Myung Tae-kyun between April 2021 and March 2022.
- The Seoul Central District Court had convicted Yoon over 14 polls and sentenced him to two years in prison in July.
- The appellate court said political advice could provide political benefits but could not be quantified as a property benefit under the Political Funds Act.
- The lower court had sentenced Myung Tae-kyun to 18 months in prison, while prosecutors had sought four years for Yoon and three years for Myung.
- Former first lady Kim Keon Hee was acquitted of the same charges in separate first- and second-instance trials and is awaiting a Supreme Court ruling.
Former President Yoon Suk Yeol attends his trial at the Seoul Central District Court in Seoul, Sept. 26, 2025. Joint Press Corps
An appellate court overturned a lower court ruling Wednesday, acquitting former President Yoon Suk Yeol of charges related to receiving free opinion polls ahead of the 2022 presidential election in violation of the political funds law.
The Seoul High Court found Yoon not guilty of violating the Political Funds Act, which bans improper political donations, reversing the Seoul Central District Court's conviction in July that had sentenced him to two years in prison.
Yoon had been indicted on charges of colluding with his wife and receiving 58 opinion polls worth about 270 million won ($202,000) in total for free from self-proclaimed power broker Myung Tae-kyun between April 2021 and March 2022.
The appellate court ruled that Myung's provision of opinion polls could not be seen as political donations under the political funds law as they could not be categorized as having a benefit in terms of property.
"While the political advice provided by Myung Tae-kyun could be seen as having political benefits, it cannot be quantified as a benefit in terms of property," the court said. "It is difficult to view it as a donation of political funds."
The court also cited the lack of evidence indicating that the former first couple and Myung had made an agreement for free opinion polls.
The appellate court also acquitted Myung, who had also been indicted in the case, overturning the lower court ruling that sentenced him to 18 months in prison.
Special counsel Min Joong-ki's team had sought a four-year prison term for Yoon and a three-year term for Myung.
The Seoul Central District Court had convicted Yoon for 14 of the 58 free opinion polls, ruling there had been an implicit agreement for the opinion polls between the two sides.
The latest ruling comes after the former president's wife, Kim Keon Hee, was acquitted of the same charges in her separate first- and second-instance trials. She is awaiting a final ruling from the Supreme Court.
Yoon has been standing multiple criminal trials following his failed 2024 martial law bid and subsequent ouster from office.
He was sentenced to life in prison in February for leading an insurrection through his martial law declaration. That case is currently under review at the appellate court.
Explore More
- Q.
- Q.
- Q.