{
  "id": 14132756,
  "title": "Special counsel urges appeals court to uphold Yoon's election law conviction",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/special-counsel-urges-appeals-court-to-uphold-yoons-election-law",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-13T06:03:27.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yonhap News",
    "slug": "yonhap-news",
    "url": "https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20261013007300315"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On October 13, a special counsel team urged the Seoul High Court to uphold the conviction of former President Yoon Suk Yeol for election law violations, a decision that, if upheld, would invalidate his 2022 presidential election and obligate his party to return nearly 40 billion won in campaign expenses. The special counsel presented their case during a hearing at the appeals court, requesting the dismissal of Yoon's appeal. The sentencing hearing is set for October 27 at 2 p.m. In July, the Seoul Central District Court sentenced Yoon to a one and a half year suspended prison term following his conviction for making false statements as the People Power Party's presidential candidate in the March 2022 election. Yoon was accused of falsely claiming to have never introduced a lawyer to a former tax official during a 2021 press event and lying about meeting a shaman during a January 2022 interview. The court accepted the special counsel's argument that Yoon had indeed introduced the lawyer and met the shaman, albeit through his wife. If the verdict is confirmed through the appeals process, Yoon's election will be declared invalid, and the PPP will be required to return the 39.7 billion won it received as reimbursement for campaign expenses following his 2022 victory. Under election law, parties are reimbursed if their presidential candidate secures at least 15 percent of the vote but must return the funds if their candidate receives a sentence of a fine of 1 million won or greater for election law violations. Despite the conviction, Yoon maintained his innocence during his closing statement, asserting that his prior remarks were not false.",
  "summary": "SEOUL, Oct. 13 (Yonhap) -- A special counsel team on Tuesday asked the Seoul Hig...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": "Upholding the conviction would dismantle the current presidency and force the ruling party to forfeit massive campaign reimbursements, fundamentally altering the nation's political and financial landscape.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "KBS World Radio",
        "title": "Special Counsel Asks Court to Uphold Yoon’s Conviction under Election Law",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/special-counsel-asks-court-to-uphold-yoons-conviction-under-election",
        "published": "2026-10-13T04:44:52.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Special counsel urges appeals court to uphold Yoon's election law conviction",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/special-counsel-urges-appeals-court-to-uphold-yoons-election-law-14136761",
        "published": "2026-10-13T06:42:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}