Seo Daeseok, Gwangju Seo-gu Mayor, Faces 'Loss of Position' in First Trial, Causing Stir at District Office

Sentenced to 6 Months Imprisonment with 2 Years Probation and a Fine of 10 Million Won

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Seo Daeseok, mayor of Seo-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City, received a sentence resulting in loss of position in the first trial on charges of 'bribery,' causing unrest within the Seo-gu office.

According to Seo-gu, Gwangju on the 12th, Seo, who was indicted without detention on charges of receiving solicitation-related bribes (violation of the Attorney-at-Law Act), was sentenced to 6 months in prison with a 2-year probation and fined 10 million won.

Seo immediately filed an appeal regarding this.

A sentence of imprisonment without labor or higher corresponds to a loss of position sentence, and if this ruling is confirmed by the Supreme Court, Seo will lose his position as mayor.

Previously, the prosecution had requested the court to sentence Seo to 8 months in prison and a fine of 10 million won.

Seo was indicted on charges of receiving 8 million won from the representative of a special recycling company under the pretext of holding briefings and experiments for a sewage treatment device project ordered by the Gwangju Environment Corporation from September to December 2015, and receiving 2 million won from a public official under the pretext of a promotion personnel request.

Seo claimed that he worked as an advisor to the company at the time and received the money legitimately, and denied receiving any payment for the personnel request.

However, the court reportedly judged all charges as guilty after comprehensively reviewing testimonies from related parties, account transaction details, and text messages.

Following this ruling against Seo, the atmosphere inside the district office has become unsettled.

Although it is a first trial verdict, some public officials explained that the sentence was higher than initially expected, as it was a prison sentence of imprisonment without labor or more.

One public official said, "I did not expect the first trial sentence for Seo Daeseok, mayor of Seo-gu, to come out like this," and added, "Although the Supreme Court confirmation has not been made, it is true that the internal atmosphere is unsettled."

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