Assemblyman Jo Hae-jin Accused of Distorting and Publishing Poll Results Faces 3 Million Won Fine in Appeal Trial

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Sang-hyun] Prosecutors have requested a fine in the appeal trial of Jo Hae-jin, a member of the People Power Party (Gyeongnam Miryang·Uiryeong·Haman·Changnyeong).

On the 21st, according to the Changwon Division of the Busan High Court, at the first appeal hearing presided over by the Criminal Division 1 (Chief Judge Kim Jin-seok), prosecutors requested the same fine of 3 million won as in the first trial for Representative Jo.

Earlier, on November 18 last year, the Miryang Branch of the Changwon District Court gave Representative Jo a suspended sentence with a fine of 1.5 million won.

A suspended sentence is a form of leniency where the sentencing of a light offender is postponed for a certain period, and if no specific incidents occur during that period, the sentence is waived.

Representative Jo was indicted on charges of distorting and publicizing opinion polls after appearing on the YouTube channel 'Goseongguk TV' ahead of the April 15 general election, responding to the host's question, "If Hong Jun-pyo runs as an independent, will candidate Jo win?" with "He will win by a large margin."

Under the Public Official Election Act, elected officials lose their position if a fine of 1 million won or more is confirmed.

The sentencing hearing for Representative Jo's appeal trial will be held on February 3 at 10:40 a.m.

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