Ex-President Yoon sentenced to 2 years in prison in free opinion poll case

July 13, 2026

A Seoul district court on Monday sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to two years in prison for violating the Political Funds Act by accepting free opinion polls from a power broker.

The Seoul Central District Court convicted Yoon of receiving 14 opinion polls worth part of 270 million won from Myung Tae-kyun between April 2021 and March 2022. The court ordered forfeiture of 13.96 million won.

Judges noted that Yoon promised to back former Rep. Kim Young-sun's nomination for the People Power Party in the June 2022 by-elections in exchange for the polls. Myung received an 18-month prison term.

Yoon's lawyers said they would appeal, citing the April acquittal of his wife Kim Keon Hee on similar charges. The special counsel team described the ruling as meaningful.

What people are saying

Initial reactions on X to Yoon's 2-year sentence in the opinion poll case are mostly neutral news reports noting the conviction adds to his other legal issues, including a separate martial law case, with some users highlighting the 'spectacular fall' or ongoing appeals.

A South Korean court sentenced former president Yoon Suk Yeol on Monday to two years in prison for illegally receiving free opinion polls in exchange for political support, adding to his growing legal woes.

Yoon, 65, is already in detention while appealing against a separate…

— The Standard Digital (@StandardKenya) July 13, 2026

South Korean court sentences former President Yoon Suk-yeol to two years in prison after finding him guilty of illegally receiving opinion polling serviceshttps://t.co/Uz6tLvd4iL

— TRT World (@trtworld) July 13, 2026

#SouthKorea's former president Yoon Suk-yeol was sentenced to 2 years in prison in a first-instance ruling on charges of receiving free public opinion polling services, Yonhap News Agency reported Monday. https://t.co/SlnZh34XAf pic.twitter.com/sUJmxSYfdB

— China Daily (@ChinaDaily) July 13, 2026

South Korea's former President Yoon Suk Yeol has been sentenced to 2 years in prison in a political funding case involving free opinion polling services worth over $180,000.#southkorea #breakingnews #politics #worldnews pic.twitter.com/hlsP9DHzxz

— Meridian Point (@PointMerid254) July 13, 2026

🚨 BREAKING: The spectacular fall of South Korea's former President Yoon Suk Yeol continues.

A Seoul court just handed Yoon another 2-year prison sentence for violating political funding laws in a massive polling bribery scandal.

This new conviction adds to his finalized 7-year… pic.twitter.com/HyD1Siu2uq

— Rajat Jain (@RajatJain) July 13, 2026

Sources

• https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260713001653315
• https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260713001652315
• https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260713001651315
• https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260713009200315