South Korean court sentences ex-President Yoon 2 years

A South Korean court sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to two years in prison on Monday, July 13, 2026, for illegally receiving free opinion polling services during his 2022 presidential campaign. The Seoul Central District Court found Yoon guilty of violating the Political Funds Act by accepting 14 surveys from a political broker in exchange for political influence.

The court ruled that Yoon, in collusion with his wife Kim Keon Hee, received the polling services from broker Myung Taekyun between June 2021 and March 2022. The surveys, which used manipulated data, were valued at approximately 27.9 million won (about $18,600). In return, Yoon promised to exert influence to secure the ruling People Power Party's nomination for former lawmaker Kim Youngsun in a 2022 parliamentary byelection. The court stated that Yoon later followed through on this promise. Myung was sentenced to 18 months in prison on the same charge.

Yoon denied the allegations throughout the proceedings, arguing he neither requested the polls nor promised political favors. His legal team announced they would appeal Monday's ruling, calling it based on insufficient evidence. They pointed to the previous...