Special counsel asks appeals court to uphold Yoon Suk Yeol’s election-law conviction
The Seoul High Court has scheduled an Oct. 27 hearing. If the conviction becomes final, Yonhap reports that Yoon’s 2022 election would be invalidated and his party would have to repay campaign funds.
Special counsel Min Joong-ki’s team asked the Seoul High Court on Tuesday, Oct. 13, to reject former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s appeal and uphold his election-law conviction, Yonhap reported. The court has scheduled a hearing for Oct. 27; if the conviction becomes final, Yoon’s 2022 election and campaign funding could be affected.
What Yoon is appealing
The Seoul Central District Court convicted Yoon in late July over false statements made during his 2022 presidential campaign and sentenced him to 18 months in prison, suspended for three years. Yoon maintains that his remarks were not false, according to Yonhap.
Campaign funding consequences if the conviction becomes final
Yonhap reports that a final conviction would invalidate Yoon’s 2022 election and require his People Power Party to return 39.7 billion won in reimbursed campaign expenses. It says an election-law sentence of a fine of at least 1 million won triggers repayment. South Korea’s National Election Commission describes public reimbursement of campaign expenses as part of the country’s election system; its English guidance does not specify that case-related threshold.
Sources and context
- Special counsel urges appeals court to uphold Yoon's election law convictionYonhap News Agency
- Campaign Expense | Elections for Public OfficeNational Election Commission of the Republic of Korea
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