Former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s election-law appeal could leave the People Power Party owing the state 39.7 billion won ($29.7 million) if his prison sentence is upheld and becomes final.
The Seoul High Court’s sentencing is scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday Korea Standard Time (5 a.m. UTC Wednesday). Court officials said Friday that broadcasters would be allowed to air it live.
Yoon won the March 2022 presidential election as the People Power Party’s candidate. In July, a district court sentenced him to 18 months in prison, suspended for three years, over false statements made during the campaign.
Repayment would not follow automatically from the appeal ruling. The penalty must become final, which could come after a potential appeal to the Supreme Court.
Election law makes campaign spending reimbursements available to parties whose candidates win at least 15% of the vote. A party must return the funds if its candidate receives a final prison sentence or a final fine of at least 1 million won for an election-law violation. The People Power Party would bear the repayment, and the state would receive the returned funds.
