In brief
The Seoul High Court confirmed Yoon’s 18‑month suspended sentence for false statements in his 2022 campaign, a decision that could invalidate his victory under South Korean law. If the invalidation is final, the ruling People Power Party must refund almost 40 billion won in reimbursed campaign costs. The case follows Yoon’s earlier convictions for insurrection and treason.
On November 4, 2026, the Seoul High Court upheld a suspended prison sentence for former President Yoon Suk‑yeol, bringing his 2022 election win into doubt, said Xinhua.
The decision is part of a trial that found Yoon had made false statements during his campaign, violating South Korean election law.
The appellate court confirmed the lower court’s ruling that Yoon receives an 18‑month prison term that is suspended for three years. Xinhua reports that the court rejected Yoon’s appeal and imposed the same suspended sentence. If the sentence is upheld, the law says an elected official’s victory is invalidated when the final ruling fines the official over 1 million won. Yoon has not been convicted of a fine but the suspended sentence in itself triggers the voiding of his 2022 victory.
The ruling has a financial consequence for Yoon’s coalition. Under the election code, the ruling People Power Party would be required to return about 39.7 billion won – roughly US 30 million – that it had previously received from the National Election Commission to cover campaign expenses. Yonhap noted the party could face a costly reimbursement if the invalidation is finalized.
Yoon’s case also includes separate criminal convictions. In February, officials said he received a life sentence for declaring martial law, and in June he was given a 30‑year sentence for treason related to drone infiltration of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. These convictions are unrelated to the election‑law trial but add to the legal scrutiny surrounding the former leader.
In the next weeks, South Korea’s judiciary will decide whether to declare the 2022 election null and void. That decision could reshape the political balance, return billions in campaign money, and strengthen legal accountability for elected officials. Yonhap added that the case highlights the high stakes of South Korea’s democratic process.
