Seoul: A Seoul district court on Monday sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to two years in prison after finding him partially guilty of accepting illegal political funds in the form of free opinion polls from a self-proclaimed power broker.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the Seoul Central District Court delivered the verdict after a special counsel team indicted the former president on charges of receiving opinion polls worth about 270 million won (US$180,100) in total from the power broker, Myung Tae-kyun, for free between April 2021 and March 2022.

The court's decision marks a significant development in the legal proceedings against Yoon, who served as the country's leader and is now facing consequences for his actions during his presidency. The case has drawn considerable public attention due to the high-profile nature of the individuals involved and the substantial amount of money implicated.

Myung Tae-kyun, identified as the source of the free opinion polls, has been portrayed as a power broker with the ability to influence political outcomes. The court's ruling underscores the importance of transparency and legality in political financing, setting a precedent for similar cases in the future.

Yoon Suk Yeol's legal team is expected to appeal the decision, seeking a review of the charges and the sentence imposed. The case highlights the ongoing challenges of maintaining integrity within political systems and the judicial measures in place to address breaches of conduct.