Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol Sentenced to Two Years in Prison: What Led to This Controversial Ruling?

Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been sentenced to two years in prison for accepting illegal political funds through free opinion polls. This ruling, which diverges from a previous acquittal of his wife on similar charges, raises questions about political integrity in South Korea. The court found that Yoon received numerous opinion polls from a power broker in exchange for political support. His legal team plans to appeal the decision, citing inconsistencies with his wife's case. This conviction adds to Yoon's ongoing legal challenges following his controversial martial law attempt in 2024. Read on to explore the implications of this ruling and its impact on Yoon's political career.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 13, 2026, 17:25 IST

Court Ruling Against Yoon Suk Yeol

Seoul: On Monday, a district court in Seoul handed down a two-year prison sentence to former President Yoon Suk Yeol after he was found partially guilty of accepting illegal political contributions through complimentary opinion polls from a self-identified power broker.

The Seoul Central District Court ruled against Yoon for breaching the Political Funds Act, a decision that contrasts with a previous trial where his wife was acquitted of similar charges.

According to reports, special counsel Min Joong-ki's team had indicted Yoon for colluding with his spouse, former first lady Kim Keon Hee, and for receiving 58 opinion polls valued at approximately 270 million won (around USD 180,100) for free from Myung Tae-kyun, the power broker, between April 2021 and March 2022.

The court confirmed that Yoon had indeed received 14 opinion polls from Myung without charge during that timeframe, resulting in his prison sentence and a forfeiture of 13.96 million won.

The court acknowledged the special counsel's assertion that Yoon had agreed to endorse former Rep. Kim Young-sun's candidacy for the conservative People Power Party in the June 2022 parliamentary by-elections in exchange for the opinion polls.

"The defendant's actions have eroded trust in politics and compromised public confidence in the democratic process," the court stated. "A punishment that reflects the severity of the wrongdoing is necessary."

Additionally, Myung was sentenced to 18 months in prison for his involvement.

The special counsel had initially sought a four-year sentence for Yoon and three years for Myung.

This ruling stands in stark contrast to an appellate court's earlier decision that acquitted Yoon's wife of charges related to accepting free opinion polls from Myung.

In April, the Seoul High Court determined that the couple did not benefit from the opinion polls, as Myung had also provided them to other individuals. The special counsel has appealed this decision.

Following the verdict, Yoon's legal team announced plans to appeal, expressing confusion over the ruling, especially in light of his wife's acquittal.

The special counsel team described the recent ruling as "very significant," indicating that the judges had thoroughly evaluated the evidence and arguments presented.

This conviction adds to Yoon's legal troubles, as he faces multiple trials stemming from his unsuccessful attempt to impose martial law in 2024. In February, he received a life sentence for leading an insurrection during that brief period.