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Yoon Suk‑Yeol’s Opinion‑Poll Trial Begins March 17, Weekly Hearings Planned

Updated (6 articles)

Trial schedule set by Seoul Central District Court The court announced that the first formal hearing will open on March 17, 2026, and will continue at one‑week intervals thereafter, allowing systematic examination of evidence and testimony [1]. The schedule was confirmed during a preparatory hearing on Tuesday, establishing a clear timetable for the prosecution and defense [1]. Weekly sessions aim to manage the complex volume of poll data and financial records [1].

Yoon indicted for accepting 58 free opinion polls Prosecutors allege former President Yoon Suk Yeol received 58 opinion polls valued at roughly 270 million won (≈US$186,000) from power broker Myung Tae‑kyun between April 2021 and March 2022 [1]. The indictment claims the polls were provided without charge, violating the Political Funds Act’s restrictions on election‑related contributions [1]. Acceptance of these polls is presented as a breach of campaign finance rules governing free services to candidates [1].

Myung Tae‑kyun faces charges for poll provision Myung, identified as a self‑proclaimed political influencer, is charged with offering the free polls in contravention of the Political Funds Act [1]. The indictment links his actions to the same April 2021‑March 2022 period, suggesting coordinated effort to influence Yoon’s campaign strategy [1]. Authorities view the poll distribution as an illegal contribution intended to sway electoral outcomes [1].

Yoon’s wife, Kim Keon Hee, also indicted, verdict pending Kim Keon Hee has been charged alongside her husband for the same alleged misconduct involving free opinion polls [1]. Her court verdict is scheduled for Wednesday, indicating parallel legal proceedings that could impact the broader case narrative [1]. The simultaneous trials underscore the prosecution’s focus on the network of individuals benefiting from the polls [1].

Prosecutors allege quid‑pro‑quo for candidate nominations Special counsel Min Joong‑ki’s investigative team argues the free polls were exchanged for assistance in securing nominations for the June 2022 parliamentary by‑elections [1]. This alleged barter forms the core of the prosecution’s case, suggesting a direct link between poll provision and political favors [1]. The theory positions the poll exchange as a strategic maneuver to influence candidate selection processes [1].

Sources

Timeline

Apr 2021 – Mar 2022 – Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife Kim Keon Hee allegedly receive 58 free opinion polls worth 270 million won from self‑proclaimed power broker Myung Tae‑kyun, violating the Political Funds Act and constituting the core of the later indictment [1][3].

Mar 2022 – Yoon wins the presidential election shortly after the alleged poll receipts, positioning him to later influence candidate nominations for the June 2022 parliamentary by‑elections [3].

Jun 2022 – Parliamentary by‑elections occur; prosecutors later suspect that the free polls were exchanged for assistance in securing nominations for these contests [1][4].

Jul 2025 – The government creates a special‑counsel team led by Min Joong‑ki to probe corruption allegations surrounding former first lady Kim Keon Hee, expanding the investigation to include Yoon and his associates [6].

Oct 2025 – Two North Korean soldiers captured while fighting for Russia in Ukraine write a letter expressing a desire to defect to South Korea; the plea is delivered to a South Korean defectors group via a documentary producer [2].

Dec 19, 2025 – Former President Yoon Suk Yeol appears before the special‑counsel team as a suspect in his wife’s bribery case, accused of being an accomplice in receiving free polls and a painting and of possibly violating the Public Official Election Act; his lawyer says he was “completely unaware” of the gifts [6].

Dec 20, 2025 – Yoon is questioned for more than eight hours, denies all allegations, and his counsel repeats that he had no knowledge of his wife’s alleged luxury gifts; the interrogation is expected to be his final appearance before the probe ends on Dec 28 [5].

Dec 21, 2025 – New Reform Party leader Lee Jun‑seok is questioned for nearly ten hours, cooperates and testifies about Yoon, while denying accusations that he colluded to influence the 2022 by‑elections; the inquiry highlights the probe’s reach into the ruling People Power Party [4].

Dec 24, 2025 – The special‑counsel team formally indicts Yoon and Myung Tae‑kyun for receiving 58 free opinion polls valued at 270 million won, marking a decisive step in the case; on the same day the won rebounds after authorities intervene in the FX market, the National Assembly passes an anti‑fake‑news bill, and the presidential office announces its rename to Cheong Wa Dae and relocation [2][3].

Jan 27, 2026 – Seoul Central District Court sets the first formal trial on Yoon’s opinion‑poll case for Mar 17, 2026, with weekly sessions thereafter; Yoon’s wife Kim Keon Hee faces a verdict on Jan 28, and prosecutors allege the polls were exchanged for nomination favors in the June 2022 by‑elections [1].

Jan 28, 2026 – A court verdict on Kim Keon Hee’s indictment is scheduled, potentially confirming her involvement in the free‑poll scheme and shaping the upcoming trial of her husband [1].

Mar 17, 2026 (future) – The opening hearing of Yoon’s trial commences, initiating a series of weekly hearings that will examine the alleged quid‑pro‑quo between free polls and political nominations [1].

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