Supreme Court Confirms Not Guilty Verdict for Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun on Violation of Public Official Election Act

Yoon Sang-hyun, Member of the People Power Party [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Kyung-jun] Yoon Sang-hyun, a member of the People Power Party who was prosecuted for violating the Public Official Election Act, has been acquitted.

The Supreme Court's 2nd Division (Presiding Justice Cheon Dae-yeop) on the 15th upheld the lower court's verdict of not guilty in the final appeal trial of Yoon, who was charged with violating the Public Official Election Act. Ham Ba Broker Yoo Sang-bong, who was tried alongside Yoon, and Yoon's former aide were each sentenced to 4 years and 3 years in prison, respectively.

Yoon was non-independently prosecuted without detention in October of the same year on charges of providing convenience to Yoo in exchange for help with election campaigning after running as an independent candidate in the Incheon Dong-gu Michuhol constituency in the April 15, 2020 general election, and for providing a meal worth about 60,000 won to journalists and others related to election campaigning on May 1, 2020.

Yoon was also accused of having Yoo file a false complaint against Ahn Sang-soo, then a competing candidate from the United Future Party (now People Power Party), and having it reported through a certain media outlet.

The first trial found Yoon guilty only of providing a meal worth about 60,000 won to journalists and others related to election campaigning on May 1, 2020, and sentenced him to a fine of 800,000 won.

However, the second trial acquitted him, stating, "Considering the nature of the meal gathering and the process of holding the meeting, the timing was more than ten days after the election ended, and there were people unrelated to the election among the attendees," and "It is not easy to conclude that benefits were provided in relation to election campaigning."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.