Key facts
- Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for three years.
- The sentence was for violating election law during his 2022 presidential campaign.
- The court found Yoon guilty of making false statements.
- The People Power Party may have to return 39.7 billion won in election campaign expenses if the conviction is finalized.
A Seoul district court has sentenced former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to an 18-month prison term, suspended for three years, for violating election law. The ruling by the Seoul Central District Court found Yoon guilty of making false statements during his presidential campaign in March 2022.
If Yoon's conviction is finalized with a fine of at least 1 million won (approximately US$685) or a jail term, the People Power Party (PPP) is required to return 39.7 billion won in election campaign expenses it received under the election law. The court's decision marks a significant legal development for the former president.