A South Korean court sentenced former President Yoon Suk-yeol to two years in prison on Monday after finding him guilty of illegally receiving opinion polling services worth 270 million won ($179,800) free of charge from a political broker, local media reported.
The Seoul Central District Court found that Yoon violated political funding laws by accepting 14 rounds of polling at no cost and later using his influence to secure the nomination of a former lawmaker in return, according to the ruling.
Yoon denied the charges, saying he neither requested the polling services nor promised anything in exchange.
The ruling differed from earlier court decisions involving former first lady Kim Keon-hee, which found no quid pro quo linked to the polling services.
Monday's verdict can be appealed.
Yoon, 65, is facing eight criminal cases. He is currently appealing a life sentence handed down in February after being convicted of masterminding an insurrection linked to his brief declaration of martial law in 2024.
In a separate case, the Supreme Court last week upheld a seven-year prison sentence for obstructing authorities' attempt to arrest him.
