The second trial of the Public Official Election Act case involving the return of 39.7 billion won in national power concludes today.

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Bitna Kim = The appeal trial of former President Yoon Seok-yeol's violation of the Public Official Election Act, which depends on the return of 39.7 billion won in presidential election expenses preserved by the People Power Party, will conclude on the 13th.

Seoul High Court Criminal Division 2-1 (High Court Judges Baek Seung-yeop, Hwang Seung-tae, and Kim Young-hyun) will hold an appeal hearing on former President Yoon's charges of violating the Public Official Election Act at 10 a.m. on this day.

The court was originally scheduled to proceed with the decision-making process on the 29th of last month, but it was postponed due to prolonged witness examination.

At the final trial, former President Yoon will be questioned as a defendant, followed by Special Prosecutor Min Joong-ki's final opinion and sentence, and former President Yoon's side's final argument and final statement.

Former President Yoon is accused of announcing false facts to the effect that "I have never introduced a lawyer named Lee (from the Central Investigation Department of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office) to former Yongsan Tax Office Chief Yoon Woo-jin at a debate invited to the Kwanhun Club on December 14, 2021, when he was a presidential candidate."

Former Chief Yoon is the older brother of former Prosecutor General Yoon Dae-jin, who was a close associate of former President Yoon during his time as a prosecutor. The special prosecution team believes that former President Yoon actually introduced a lawyer, but made an untrue statement out of concern about a decline in approval ratings.

In an interview at the launch ceremony of the Buddhist Leaders Forum on January 17, 2022, there was also a charge of publicizing false information to the effect that "I was introduced to Geonjinbeopsa Jeon Seong-bae by a party official, and I have never met him together with First Lady Kim Kun-hee."

The first trial found him guilty on the main charge and sentenced him to 1 year and 6 months in prison with probation.

If the sentence is confirmed, the People Power Party must return the 39.7 billion won in election expenses received during the 20th presidential election to the National Election Commission in accordance with the Public Official Election Act.

People Power Party lawmakers who were indicted by the 2nd Special Prosecutor Kwon Chang-young's team on charges of interfering with the execution of an arrest warrant for former President Yoon Seok-yeol by the High-ranking Public Officials Crime Investigation Office (Corruption Investigation Office) after martial law on December 3, will also face their first trial.

On this day, Seoul Central District Court Criminal Agreement Division 35 (Chief Judge Baek Dae-hyeon) will hold the first trial preparation date for the case of People Power Party lawmakers Na Kyung-won, Kim Ki-hyun, Yoon Sang-hyun, and Kwon Young-jin on charges of obstruction of special official duties.

The trial preparation date is a procedure to discuss proof plans prior to the full hearing, and there is no obligation for the defendant to attend.

Rep. Na and others are accused of creating a human wall with former President Yoon's supporters in front of the President's residence on January 15 last year, after the December 3 martial law incident, and obstructing the execution of an arrest warrant for former President Yoon by the police and the Corruption Investigation Office on charges of being the leader of the rebellion.

The first appellate trial of Unification Church President Hak Ja Han, who was indicted on charges of 'politico-political collusion' with the Yoon Seok-yeol government and sentenced to prison in the first trial, will also be held at the Seoul High Court's Criminal Division 13 (High Court Judge Kim Moo-shin, Lee Woo-hee, and Yoo Dong-gyun).

At the hearing on this day, a bail interrogation of President Han will also be held.

President Han was found guilty of giving money and valuables to First Lady Kim Kun-hee and former People Power Party lawmaker Kwon Seong-dong in favor of Unification Church issues and was sentenced to two years in prison in the first trial.

However, as the suspension of execution received during the trial was maintained, he was not detained even after the first trial sentence.