The Seoul High Court sustained an 18-month suspended sentence after determining that the former president breached his duty to provide voters with truthful information. Defense attorneys labeled the outcome unjust and confirmed plans to escalate the challenge to the Supreme Court. Should the ruling stand, it could formally nullify the 2022 election victory and mandate that the People Power Party surrender nearly 40 billion won in public campaign subsidies. The penalty lands as Yoon already faces a separate life sentence tied to his brief imposition of martial law.
Key points
The conservative People Power Party risks losing roughly one-third of its total assets if…: The conservative People Power Party risks losing roughly one-third of its total assets if the verdict is finalized.
Yoon's legal team intends to take the campaign disinformation case to the Supreme Court a…: Yoon's legal team intends to take the campaign disinformation case to the Supreme Court after calling the appellate ruling unjust.
The 65-year-old former leader denies the insurrection charges while facing several additi…: The 65-year-old former leader denies the insurrection charges while facing several additional trials connected to the failed martial law decree.
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Former South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law in December 2024, ordering troops to shut down parliament, before lawmakers defied the military to vote down the decree.
SEOUL: A South Korean appeals court on Wednesday (Nov 4) upheld former president Yoon Suk Yeol's 18-month suspended sentence for spreading disinformation on the campaign trail, a ruling that could force the opposition to repay nearly US$30 million.
The ruling is a largely symbolic blow for the disgraced ex-leader, who has already been sentenced to life imprisonment for insurrection.
Yoon declared martial law in December 2024, ordering troops to shut down parliament, before lawmakers defied the military to vote down the decree.
The 65-year-old was subsequently impeached and removed from office, and has since faced a slew of criminal prosecutions.
Wednesday's ruling affirmed a lower court verdict that found Yoon guilty of violating election laws by making false statements during his campaign, including lying about his ties to a shaman.
"The defendant, who had a duty to provide voters with accurate information on which to base their judgement, disseminated disinformation," the…
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