Former National Assembly Candidate Faces Criminal Charges for Failing to Repay Election Promotion Service Fees

Daejeon District Court. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] A candidate who lost in the National Assembly election was criminally punished for failing to repay the election promotion planning service fee.

On the 30th, according to the legal community, Judge Lee Jeong-hoon of the Daejeon District Court Criminal Division 9 sentenced A (58), who was indicted on fraud charges, to 4 months in prison with a 1-year probation.

The judge stated, "Considering the method of the crime and the amount of damage, the nature of the crime is serious," and added, "Most of the damages have been recovered, which was taken into account in sentencing."

Four years ago, A, who ran as an independent candidate in the 20th general election, entrusted a planning service company in the Daejeon area with his election promotion planning and paid half of the 40 million won contract deposit.

A received election materials such as banners, business cards, election posters, newsletters, and election office videos and conducted his campaign but was not elected.

Later, when the company demanded "the remaining contract deposit and promotion material fees totaling about 83 million won," A only said "please wait" and failed to repay the overdue money for several months.

Although the victim won a civil lawsuit claiming the service fee and was able to receive the service fee, loan, and delayed interest, A was sued after failing to properly settle the payment.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.