Yoon Suk-yeol Sentenced to 2 Years in First Instance for Receiving Free Polls, Files Appeal

(Central News Agency reporter Yang Chi-fang, Seoul, 15th) Former South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol was sentenced to two years in prison on the 13th in the first instance over the 'Myeong Tae-kyun public opinion poll case.' Yoon has confirmed his appeal, arguing that the lower court made factual errors and imposed an inappropriate sentence. Myeong Tae-kyun, who was taken into custody during the trial, also filed an appeal.

According to a report today by Yonhap News Agency, Yoon is suspected of conspiring with his wife Kim Keon-hee to receive 58 free public opinion surveys from Myeong Tae-kyun between June 2021 and March 2022, leading to his indictment. On the 13th, the first-instance court ruled that 14 of the polls cited in the indictment were received without payment, sentencing Yoon to two years in prison and ordering the confiscation of approximately 13.96 million South Korean won (about 310,000 New Taiwan dollars).

The court found that there was an implicit understanding between Yoon and his wife and Myeong regarding the conduct and provision of the polls. Even without a formal agreement, Yoon used his influence to help former People Power Party lawmaker Kim Young-hee secure a nomination as a form of repayment. However, the court determined that the remaining 44 polls were not directly delivered by Myeong, making it impossible to confirm whether they were provided under an agreement with the Yoon couple.

According to legal sources today, Yoon's legal team filed an appeal yesterday with the 33rd Criminal Division of Seoul Central District Court. Myeong Tae-kyun, who was sentenced to one year and six months in prison and immediately detained, also filed an appeal on the same day. Yoon's side argues that the first-instance court made factual misjudgments, legal misinterpretations, and imposed an inappropriate sentence.

However, the report notes that Kim Keon-hee was indicted in a separate case on the same charges but was acquitted in both the first and second trials, creating a direct contradiction. In Kim's case, both the first and second courts ruled that Myeong conducted the polls unilaterally to promote his own polling business and expand political influence, without prior consultation or agreement, thus acquitting Kim.

The 'Myeong Tae-kyun public opinion poll case' involves former South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, and other high-ranking political figures suspected of illegally receiving free polls from political broker Myeong Tae-kyun, violating South Korea's Political Funds Act, sparking a political scandal. (Editor: Chen Cheng-gong) 1150715

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