"I Didn't Know Geomjin Beopsa," Yoon Says... First-Instance Election Law Ruling Could Void His Election

Former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was indicted on charges of making false statements during the 20th presidential election, was sentenced in the first instance to a suspended prison term. Under the Public Official Election Act, a fine of 1 million won or more results in disqualification from office. If Yoon's sentence is finalized, the People Power Party would have to return 39.7 billion won in election subsidies paid by the NEC. Yoon's camp immediately appealed, saying the court had misunderstood the facts and misapplied the law.
On the 27th, Criminal Division 21 of the Seoul Central District Court, presided over by Judge Jo Soon-pyo, sentenced Yoon Suk Yeol to one year and six months in prison, suspended for three years, on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act.
The court found Yoon guilty on all charges.
First, the court ruled that his remark to the effect that he had never introduced a lawyer to former Yongsan Tax Office chief Woo Jin Yun constituted the publication of false information. The court said that this statement contradicted two earlier admissions: one during a 2012 phone call with reporter Han and another during his 2019 confirmation hearing for prosecutor general, when he acknowledged that he had connected Woo Jin Yun with legal counsel.
The court explained, "The circumstances surrounding the request from Woo Jin Yun's younger brother for a favor do not mean that Yoon's involvement can be excluded," and added, "Given that it has been established that Yoon introduced a lawyer to Woo Jin Yun, intent is recognized in making the statement."
A separate remark to the effect that he had been introduced to Geomjin Beopsa (Jeon Seong-bae) by a party official and had never met him together with First Lady Kim Keon-hee was also found guilty. The court said the statement could lead voters to believe that Yoon and Jeon had no prior relationship before the election.
The court rejected Yoon's argument that the statement was merely about perception and therefore did not amount to the publication of false information. It said that even during Yoon's 2016 secondment to the special counsel team investigating the Park Geun-hye and Choi Soon-sil state corruption scandal, and during his conflict with then Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae in 2020, he had received advice from Jeon.
In particular, the court said that Yoon had already known Jeon and maintained ongoing contact with him, rather than meeting him for the first time during the campaign, and that his spouse had also taken part in those interactions. It also found that Yoon, who had faced approval-rating troubles amid shamanism-related controversy, intended to defuse the issue through the statement.
The court noted, "When a candidate personally publishes false information in a setting with major impact, such as a debate or interview, the effect on an election is very significant." It added, "It is difficult to conclude that the election result was determined solely by this offense, but it is sufficient to say that the public's right to make an informed decision was undermined by it."
If the sentence is upheld by the Supreme Court of Korea, the People Power Party, Yoon's former party, will have to return the election subsidies to the NEC. Under the Public Official Election Act, a sentence of a fine of 1 million won or more leads to disqualification from office, and once the sentence is finalized by the Supreme Court, the reimbursed election funds must be returned. In the 20th presidential election, the People Power Party received 39.7 billion won in reimbursement.
Yoon's camp immediately appealed. His legal team said, "We filed the appeal on the grounds of factual error, misinterpretation of the law, and an unjust sentence."
[email protected] Jung Kyung-soo Reporter