On Monday, July 27, 2026, a South Korean court sentenced former President Yoon Suk-yeol to 18 months in prison, suspended for three years, after finding him guilty of violating election law by making false statements during his 2022 presidential campaign.

The Seoul Central District Court determined that Yoon made false claims when he denied introducing a lawyer to a former tax official and asserted that he and his wife, former first lady Kim Keon-hee, had not met shaman Jeon Seong-bae. Both relationships had been scrutinized during the campaign. The court accepted prosecutors' arguments that Yoon had indeed introduced the lawyer to the official and maintained a long-standing relationship with Jeon after first meeting him through Kim.

The court emphasized the significant impact of such false information on voters' decision-making, stating, "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."

Prosecutors had sought a two-year prison term, arguing that Yoon's remarks helped ease scrutiny of the allegations during the presidential race. Yoon has denied any wrongdoing and plans to appeal the verdict, according to his legal counsel.

If the sentence is upheld through appeals, it could compel Yoon's People Power Party to return 39.7 billion won (approximately US$27.1 million) in election expenses reimbursed by the National Election Commission following his presidential election victory. Under South Korea's election law, political parties receive state reimbursement for campaign expenses if their presidential candidate wins or secures at least 15 percent of the vote. However, 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.

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