Yoon Dae-jin, a former prosecutor general, testified in favor of former President Yoon Suk-yeol during the appeal hearing for alleged violations of the Election Law.
In a session held on September 29 at the Seoul High Court, Yoon Dae-jin stated, "The person who introduced lawyer Lee to my brother, former Yongsan Tax Office head Yoon Woo-jin, was not the former president but myself."
The two Yoons, known as 'Big Yoon' and 'Little Yoon' within the prosecution, have a close relationship, but this marked the first time they faced each other in court, with Yoon Suk-yeol as the defendant and Yoon Dae-jin as a witness.
Yoon Dae-jin further explained, "At that time, my brother was experiencing severe panic attacks and suicidal thoughts due to a bribery investigation, and it would have been inappropriate for me, as a senior prosecutor, to provide direct legal advice. Therefore, I drew a line and asked lawyer Lee, who was a junior of mine, for consultation and advice, providing him with my brother's contact information."
This testimony contradicts Yoon Suk-yeol's previous statements during his presidential campaign, where he claimed, "I did not introduce a lawyer to Yoon Woo-jin," leading to charges of disseminating false information.
In earlier hearings, Yoon Suk-yeol argued, "While it was indeed Yoon Dae-jin who introduced the lawyer, I took the blame to prevent any suspicion or disadvantage for my junior amid the conflict between the prosecution and police."
Yoon Dae-jin commented on Yoon Suk-yeol's earlier remarks, saying, "I still find it hard to understand why he said that to the press. I can only speculate it was due to his tendency to look out for his juniors and his unique personality."
Following Yoon Dae-jin's favorable testimony, the special prosecution team led by Min Jung-ki presented evidence, including a recording of a phone call between Yoon Suk-yeol and a reporter from 2012, as well as text messages sent by lawyer Lee to Yoon Woo-jin, stating, "I contacted you after hearing from Yoon Suk-yeol."
The special prosecution team questioned whether Yoon Dae-jin had provided false explanations to benefit Yoon Suk-yeol during the 2019 confirmation hearing for the prosecutor general. Yoon Dae-jin responded, "In my 27 years as a prosecutor, it does not align with my values to intentionally provide false information or commit perjury."
Yoon Suk-yeol also defended himself, stating, "In a situation where the conflict between the prosecution and police was at its peak, I took the blame to ensure my junior would not face any issues, and my comments were made in good faith. When considering the entire context of my statements, they are not malicious lies."
Previously, Yoon Suk-yeol faced charges for disseminating false information regarding the introduction of a lawyer and his relationship with former Jeong Jin-seok, and he was sentenced to 1 year and 6 months in prison, with a 3-year probation in the first trial.
Under the Election Law, if a defendant receives a sentence of more than 1 million won in fines, the People Power Party must return the 39.7 billion won in election expenses it received during the last presidential election to the National Election Commission.
The court has postponed the scheduled decision procedure to October 13, when additional evidence will be examined, and final arguments will take place.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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