Why is former President Yoon Suk Yeol facing a four-year prison request in the opinion poll case?

Special counsel Min Joong-ki said Yoon should be punished for allegedly colluding with his wife to receive free opinion polls from Myung Tae-kyun. The request also includes a forfeiture of 137.2 million won.

What happened to Yoon Suk Yeol’s wife in the free opinion poll case?

She was acquitted of the same charges in her separate first- and second-instance trials. She is now awaiting a final ruling from the Supreme Court.

4-year prison term sought for Yoon in appellate trial over free opinion polls

Q: How many free opinion polls is Yoon accused of receiving from Myung Tae-kyun?

He is accused of receiving opinion polls worth 270 million won for free on 58 occasions between June 2021 and March 2022. The lower court said only 14 of those occasions amounted to illegal political donations.

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Summary

A special counsel team on Friday sought a four-year prison term for former President Yoon Suk Yeol at the Seoul High Court in his appellate trial over free opinion polls ahead of the 2022 presidential election. Special counsel Min Joong-ki also asked for a forfeiture of 137.2 million won. The team sought three years for Myung Tae-kyun, while Yoon’s wife was previously acquitted and is awaiting a final Supreme Court ruling.

Key Facts

The lower court had sentenced Yoon to two years in prison for violating the Political Funds Act.
Yoon is accused of receiving opinion polls worth a total of 270 million won for free on 58 occasions between June 2021 and March 2022.
The lower court found Yoon guilty on 14 occasions and ruled that the other 44 occasions could not be seen as given with the couple’s consent.
Myung Tae-kyun had previously received an 18-month prison sentence in the case.
Yoon’s wife was acquitted in her separate first- and second-instance trials and is awaiting a final ruling from the Supreme Court.

By Yonhap

Published Sep 11, 2026 1:24 pm KST
Updated Sep 11, 2026 2:07 pm KST

A special counsel team on Friday sought a four-year prison term for former President Yoon Suk Yeol during his appellate trial on charges of receiving free opinion polls in the lead up to the 2022 presidential election.

Special counsel Min Joong-ki requested the sentence and a forfeiture of 137.2 million won ($102,000) at the Seoul High Court, after a lower court sentenced Yoon to two years in prison on charges of violating the Political Funds Act.

Yoon is accused of colluding with his wife to receive opinion polls worth a total of 270 million won for free from a self-proclaimed power broker, Myung Tae-kyun, in 58 occasions between June 2021 and March 2022.

The lower court convicted Yoon on 14 times he received the opinion polls, ruling they amounted to illegal political donations. It determined the other 44 occasions could not be seen as being given with the couple's consent.

Self-proclaimed power broker Myung Tae-kyun arrives at Seoul High Court in Seocho District, Seoul, Aug. 28. Yonhap

Min's team also requested a three-year prison sentence for Myung in the appellate trial after the lower court sentenced him to 18 months in prison for the charges.

Yoon's wife was acquitted of the same charges in her separate first and second-instance trials. She is currently awaiting a final ruling from the Supreme Court.

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