People watch a live television broadcast of former President Yoon Suk Yeol's trial verdict on charges of making false statements at Seoul Station, Monday. Yonhap
Ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol was sentenced Monday to a year and a half in prison, suspended for three years, for making false statements during the 2022 presidential campaign. The ruling, if it is upheld, will require the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) to return 39.7 billion won ($27.05 million) in campaign reimbursements.
The Seoul Central District Court handed Yoon the suspended jail term in the first ruling since he was indicted in December 2025 on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act over allegedly false remarks made in the run-up to the March 2022 presidential election.
Yoon, the PPP's candidate in the election, is already in jail over the December 2024 martial law fiasco, which led to his impeachment and removal from office.
The ruling carries significant political implications, because it may force the PPP to return the 39.7 billion won to the National Election Commission (NEC).
Under the Public Official Election Act, a presidential candidate who is elected or wins at least 15 percent of the vote is entitled to full reimbursement of campaign expenses from the NEC.
However, if the candidate is later convicted and the conviction is confirmed with a fine of at least 1 million won — the threshold for invalidating an election — the party must repay the full amount.
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