Yoon to Receive First Trial Verdict Today on 'Free Opinion Polls' Charges
Kim Keonhee Acquitted in First and Second Trials on Same Charges
Supreme Court Ruling Set for the 16th
The verdict in the first trial of former President Yoon Seok-youl, who was indicted on charges of receiving opinion polls free of charge from Myung Tae-kyun, will be delivered on July 13.
Former President Yoon Seok-yeol is seated in the defendant's chair attending the first trial sentencing hearing for charges including obstruction of official duties, aiding a criminal suspect, and abuse of power at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul on January 16. Photo by Yonhap News.
View original imageThe 33rd Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Chief Judge Lee Jinkwan) will hold the sentencing hearing for the violation of the Political Funds Act involving former President Yoon and Myung this afternoon at 2 p.m.
At the final hearing on May 12, the special prosecutor requested a sentence of four years in prison and a forfeiture of 137.2 million won for former President Yoon. For Myung, the prosecution requested a sentence of three years in prison.
Former President Yoon was indicted on charges of receiving a total of 58 opinion polls worth approximately 270 million won free of charge from Myung between April 2021 and March 2022. Myung was charged with donating illegal political funds by providing the opinion polls free of charge.
Former President Yoon's side has denied the charges, stating that he never commissioned opinion polls from Myung or promised any compensation. In his final statement, Yoon argued, "The very idea that a presidential candidate and spouse would personally commission opinion polls is not reasonable, and this indictment is contrary to common sense," adding, "Isn't this highly political?"
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Previously, Mrs. Kim, who was separately indicted on charges of conspiring with former President Yoon to receive opinion polls from Myung, was acquitted in both the first and second trials. The courts ruled that since Myung provided opinion polls to multiple people, it could not be viewed that the former President and his spouse received a financial benefit equivalent to the cost of the polls. The Supreme Court's decision on Mrs. Kim's appeal is scheduled for July 16.
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