Seoul:An appellate court overturned a previous ruling on Wednesday, acquitting former President Yoon Suk Yeol of charges related to receiving free opinion polls ahead of the 2022 presidential election, which was alleged to be a violation of the political funds law.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the Seoul High Court found Yoon not guilty of violating the Political Funds Act, which prohibits improper political donations. This decision reversed a July conviction by the Seoul Central District Court that had sentenced him to two years in prison.

Following the appellate court's ruling, special counsel Min Joong-ki's team expressed intentions to appeal to the Supreme Court, while Yoon's legal representatives welcomed the acquittal.

Yoon faced charges of colluding with his wife to receive 58 opinion polls, valued at approximately 270 million won (US$202,000), for free from Myung Tae-kyun, a self-proclaimed power broker, during the period between April 2021 and March 2022. The court determined that Myung's provision of these opinion polls did not constitute political donations under the law, as they were not a benefit in terms of property.

The court also noted the absence of evidence suggesting an agreement between Yoon, his wife, and Myung for the free opinion polls. Myung, who had been indicted alongside Yoon, was also acquitted, overturning his prior 18-month prison sentence.

The initial court ruling had convicted Yoon for 14 of the 58 polls, citing an implicit agreement with Myung. The latest appellate decision follows the acquittal of Yoon's wife, Kim Keon Hee, on similar charges in separate trials. She is currently awaiting a final Supreme Court decision.

Yoon is involved in multiple legal proceedings following a failed attempt to impose martial law in 2024 and his subsequent removal from office. He received a life sentence in February for his role in the insurrection, with that case currently under appellate review.