A South Korean court yesterday sentenced former president Yoon Suk Yeol to 18 months in prison, suspended for three years, after finding him guilty of violating the election law by making false statements during his 2022 presidential campaign.

The sentence, if upheld through appeals, could force Yoon’s People Power Party to return 39.7 billion won ($27.1 million) in election expenses reimbursed by the National Election Commission following his presidential election victory.

The Seoul Central District Court found Yoon made false statements during the 2022 presidential campaign when he denied introducing a lawyer to a former tax official and claimed he and his wife, former first lady Kim Keon Hee, had not met shaman Jeon Seong-bae. Both relationships had come under scrutiny during campaign.

Yoon, who had denied any wrongdoing, plans to appeal the verdict, his legal counsel said in a statement.