Seoul (South Korea), 27 July (LaPresse/AP) – Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been convicted of spreading false statements during his presidential campaign. This was the ruling handed down in the latest judgement by the Seoul District Court, following his removal from office last year after the brief imposition of martial law. The court sentenced Yoon to 18 months’ imprisonment, suspended for three years, stating that the false statements may have influenced voters’ ‘sound judgement’ regarding the candidates. Yoon listened in silence as the judge read out the verdict and made no comment. His lawyers deny the charges and intend to appeal, arguing that the verdict is based on a misinterpretation of the facts and electoral law. The People’s Power Party (PPP), of which the former president was a member, has not commented. If upheld by the higher courts, the ruling could financially cripple the PPP, forcing it to repay around 40 billion won ($27 million) in election expenses reimbursed by the government following Yoon’s narrow victory over the current liberal president, Lee Jae Myung, in 2022.
South Korea: former President Yoon convicted of spreading false information during election campaign
Seoul (South Korea), 27 July (LaPresse/AP) – Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been convicted of spreading false statements during his presidential campaign. This was the ruling handed down in the latest judgement by the Seoul District Court, following his removal from office last year after the brief imposition of martial law. The court sentenced Yoon to 18 months’ imprisonment, suspended for three years, stating that the false statements may have influenced voters’ ‘sound judgement’ regarding the candidates. Yoon listened in silence as the judge read out the verdict and made no comment. His lawyers deny the charges and intend to appeal, arguing that the verdict is based on a misinterpretation of the facts and electoral law. The People’s Power Party (PPP), of which the former president was a member, has not commented. If upheld by the higher courts, the ruling could financially cripple the PPP, forcing it to repay around 40 billion won ($27 million) in election expenses reimbursed by the government following Yoon’s narrow victory over the current liberal president, Lee Jae Myung, in 2022.
