Politics · South Korea · 3 hrs ago
South Korean appeals court set to rule on Yoon election law case
Seoul's appeals court was scheduled to rule Wednesday on former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's election law case.
Yoon was convicted over statements made during his 2022 campaign, including claims about contacts with a former tax official and a shaman.
A district court sentenced him to 18 months in prison, suspended for three years, and he appealed.
If the conviction is finalized, his election will be voided under South Korean election law.
The People Power Party, which received state reimbursement for its campaign spending after Yoon won at least 15 percent of the vote, could then have to return 39.7 billion won, or about $29.5 million.
The party could repay nearly $30 million if the appeals process ends with the sentence in place.
The court's ruling will determine what happens next in this case.
The Seoul High Court was scheduled to rule Wednesday on former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s election law case.
The case concerns allegations that Yoon made false statements during his 2022 presidential campaign.
A district court sentenced Yoon to 18 months in prison, suspended for three years, after finding him guilty.
If the sentence is finalized, Yoon’s election will be voided and the People Power Party must return 39.7 billion won in reimbursed campaign expenses.
The appeal hearing was scheduled for 2 p.m. and was to be televised live.
- Who
- Former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was found guilty by a district court.
- What
- The Seoul High Court was set to rule on his election law case. The ruling could lead to his election being voided and the People Power Party returning reimbursed campaign expenses.
- When
- Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026; the hearing was scheduled for 2 p.m.
- Where
- Seoul High Court, Seoul, South Korea.
- Why
- The case concerns allegations that Yoon made false statements during his presidential campaign.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Yoon allegedly said at a press event that he had not introduced a lawyer to a former tax official.
Yoon allegedly said in an interview that a party official had introduced him to shaman Jeon Seong-bae and denied that he and his wife had met Jeon together.
Yoon was elected president.
A district court found Yoon guilty and sentenced him to 18 months in prison, suspended for three years.
The Seoul High Court was scheduled to hear Yoon’s appeal at 2 p.m.
- Appeals court
- Seoul High Court
- Hearing
- Nov. 4, 2026, scheduled for 2 p.m.
- District court sentence
- 18 months in prison, suspended for three years
- Campaign expenses
- 39.7 billion won, or US$29.5 million
- Party
- People Power Party