SEOUL — A South Korean appellate court has reaffirmed a lower court’s guilty verdict against former President Yoon Suk-yeol for disseminating false statements during the 20th presidential campaign, handing down a suspended prison sentence that threatens the legitimacy of his past election and financial fallout for his political party.

The Seoul High Court dismissed Yoon's appeal on Wednesday, upholding the initial sentence of one year and six months in prison suspended for three years. The ruling preserves the lower court's determination that Yoon violated the Public Official Election Act by making untruthful remarks concerning his interactions with individuals tied to high-profile controversies during his campaign.

Central to the conviction were Yoon's denials regarding his ties to a former tax office chief implicated in a past corruption scandal and his attempts to downplay associations with a figure linked to shamanistic practices. The appellate panel dismissed the defense's arguments, citing compelling evidence—including past media interviews—that contradicted Yoon's claims and noting the severe nature of the offenses.

If upheld by the Supreme Court, the ruling would carry historic implications, potentially resulting in the unprecedented invalidation of a presidential election outcome. Such a decision would also compel the conservative People Power Party (PPP) to return approximately 39.7 billion won ($28 million) in state-reimbursed campaign funds.

Political fallout quickly ensued following the verdict. While opposition figures intensified criticism of Yoon and the PPP for failing to take accountability, PPP representatives shifted focus by demanding the immediate resumption of separate election law trials involving incumbent President Lee Jae-myung—a legal battle currently stalled under constitutional protections for a sitting head of state.

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