Yoon: "Not False, but a 'White Lie'" ... Election Law Appeal With KRW 39.7 Billion at Stake for People Power Party to Be Decided Next Month

[Financial News] Former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who received a sentence in the first trial that could invalidate his election for allegedly announcing false information while he was a candidate in the 20th presidential election, argued that his past remarks were closer to a "white lie," or a lie told with good intentions. Yoon's lawyers maintained that he had given an exaggerated explanation to the media to protect a junior colleague amid the conflict between the police and prosecution at the time. However, the court demanded additional clarification supported by objective evidence.
The Seoul High Court's Criminal Division 2-1, comprising High Court Judges Baek Seung-yeop, Hwang Seung-tae and Kim Young-hyun, held a hearing on the charges against former President Yoon Suk Yeol on the 29th and questioned both sides about the key witness, former senior prosecutor Yoon Dae-jin.
Yoon Suk Yeol is accused of making false statements at a Kwanhun Club debate in December 2021, when he was a presidential candidate, denying that he had introduced a lawyer formerly with the Supreme Prosecutors' Office of the Republic of Korea to Woo Jin Yun, the former head of the Yongsan Tax Office and the older brother of former senior prosecutor Yoon Dae-jin. The statement contradicted a specific answer he gave in a 2012 media interview, before entering the presidential race, saying, "I introduced attorney Lee Nam-seok, who was formerly with the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's Central Investigation Department."
From the defendant's seat, former President Yoon Suk Yeol personally emphasized, "At the time, the conflict between the police and prosecution had reached its peak, and the police were leaking information to the media, even showing reporters text messages directly." He added, "When my name was mentioned in connection with the brother of Yoon Dae-jin, who was under investigation, I took responsibility and took the blame as a kind of white lie so that my junior colleague would not become the subject of gossip or suffer disadvantages in personnel decisions."
Yoon Dae-jin, who appeared as a witness that day, also testified, "When my older brother, the former head of the Yongsan Tax Office, complained while suffering from panic disorder during a bribery investigation, I felt it would be inappropriate to become directly involved as a department head in the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's Central Investigation Department. So I asked Lee Nam-seok, a direct junior colleague, to provide advice and assistance and gave him my brother's phone number." He added, "It is absolutely not the case that former President Yoon introduced this lawyer to Woo Jin Yun."
Regarding the discrepancy between his remarks and those in the media interview, he testified, "Given his usual nature of looking after his juniors, I suspect he went out of his way to protect me."
However, the court pointed out, "He went beyond simply denying the facts and gave the reporter a very detailed account of the chronology and how events unfolded at the time. It remains questionable whether all of this can be regarded as lies told solely to shield a junior colleague." The court added, "Rather than relying on the witness's oral testimony, submit objective materials related to the conflict between the police and prosecution at the time and provide a convincing explanation."
Former President Yoon Suk Yeol is also accused of publicly announcing false information in a media interview on January 17, 2022, when he said he had never met Jeon Seong-bae, known as the Geonjin shaman, and had never met him together with Kim Keon Hee.
Yoon's legal team argues that the allegations can be resolved by watching video footage of his question-and-answer session with reporters at the time. At the next hearing, the special counsel and the court are expected to play the footage together with Yoon's defense counsel and then question Yoon Suk Yeol. The proceedings will conclude after the Special Prosecutor's Team for Kim Keon Hee, led by Special Counsel Min Joung-kie, presents its final opinion and sentencing recommendation, followed by the defense's closing arguments and Yoon Suk Yeol's final statement.
After closing arguments are completed on the 13th of next month, the appellate court is expected to issue its ruling. On July 27, the first trial found Yoon Suk Yeol guilty of all charges and sentenced him to 18 months in prison, suspended for three years. The special counsel's team had sought a two-year prison sentence. If the sentence becomes final, the People Power Party will have to return KRW 39.7 billion, including the election expenses it had been reimbursed, to the National Election Commission (NEC).
[email protected] Lee Chang-hoon Reporter