Former President Yoon Suk-yeol, indicted on charges of announcing false information ahead of the 20th presidential election, denied the charges in full at his first trial.
The Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Agreement Division 21 (Presiding Judge Cho Soon-pyo) held the first court hearing on the 23rd for former President Yoon, who was indicted on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act. The court adopted former Yongsan Tax Office chief Yoon Woo-jin and attorney Lee Nam-seok as witnesses and set the next hearing for Apr. 7 at 10 a.m.
Prosecutors say that on Dec. 14, 2021, when he was a candidate in the 20th presidential race, former President Yoon announced false information by saying at a Kwanhun Club invitational debate that he had not introduced an attorney to former Yongsan Tax Office chief Yoon Woo-jin, the older brother of former senior prosecutor Yoon Dae-jin. The indictment also includes a charge that in an interview at the Buddhist Leaders Forum inauguration on Jan. 17, 2022, he said he had not been introduced to Jeon Seong-bae, known as Geonjin, by a party official or met him together with first lady Kim Keon-hee.
The special counsel investigating Kim Keon-hee concluded that former President Yoon did in fact introduce legal counsel to former chief Yoon, and that Jeon likewise came to know Yoon through Ms. Kim and met him together, making the remarks at the time an announcement of false information, and referred former President Yoon for trial on Dec. 26 last year.
Yoon's side countered that the remarks then were not an announcement of false information but merely an explanation of the situation. Regarding the remarks about former chief Yoon Woo-jin, the attorney said, "This claim misunderstands the legal concepts of introduction and assistance," adding, "Because former senior prosecutor Yoon Dae-jin could become the subject of gossip, the point was to say 'use my name,' but it is the defendant's position that no attorney was introduced."
On the remarks related to Jeon Seong-bae, the attorney argued, "He consistently recognized Jeon as a Buddhist figure, never met him as a shaman, and answered to the effect that Ms. Kim was not present," adding, "The indictment stretches differences in word choice and perception excessively."
Former President Yoon also spoke directly. Regarding the allegation related to former chief Yoon Woo-jin, he said, "As former senior prosecutor Yoon Dae-jin was transferring from the Supreme Prosecutors' Office to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, I spoke to shield him so he wouldn't face difficulties because of his brother," adding, "I only explained as I did during the confirmation hearing for prosecutor general." On the remarks related to Jeon Seong-bae, he said, "I only knew him as a Buddhist figure," and added, "At a New Year's event, reporters asked questions after seeing Jeon act like he knew me, and I limited my explanation to that scene."
When the special counsel moved to call Jeon and Ms. Kim as witnesses, former President Yoon said, "Jeon is someone with a very wide network," adding, "I explained fully during the special counsel's investigation, but they cut out parts and indicted me."
Beyond whether the crime of announcing false information is established, the key issues in this case are expected to be whether the remarks contradict objective facts and how far to view the scope of contemporaneous perception and expression. Depending on the testimony of the witnesses adopted by the court, the factual basis and intent behind former President Yoon's remarks are also expected to be clarified.
If a conviction voiding the election result is finalized for former President Yoon in this case, the political fallout is expected to be significant. Under the Public Official Election Act, if a sentence that voids the election is finalized due to the candidate's own election crime, funds advanced or reimbursed must be returned, and for the presidential election, the party that nominated the candidate must return them. As a result, there is discussion that the 39.4 billion won in election expenses reimbursed to the People Power Party after the 20th presidential race could be subject to return.
The 39.4 billion won is more than seven times the 5.55 billion won in general subsidies the People Power Party received in the first quarter this year, and about 55 times the 719 million won in central party donations in 2025. If repayment actually occurs, it could place a considerable burden on the People Power Party's overall party operations and election-preparation financing.