County Governor Uses Gangsters to Threaten Reporter... "A Scene of Power Corruption Seen Only in Movies"

Court: "Severe Damage to Social Trust... Extremely Bad Nature of Crime"

Changwon District Court. Photo by Asia Economy DB

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Soyoung] The court sentenced former Gyeongnam Uiryeong County Governor Oh Young-ho to imprisonment on charges of threatening a reporter through organized crime groups.

On the 17th, Hwang In-seong, Chief Judge of Criminal Division 3 at Changwon District Court Masan Branch, announced that he sentenced former Governor Oh, who was tried for instigating threats, abuse of authority, violation of the Act on Real Name Financial Transactions and Confidentiality, and violation of the Mountainous Area Management Act, to 2 years and 4 months in prison.

During his tenure as governor in 2014, Oh Young-ho, dissatisfied with a critical article written about him by a daily newspaper reporter, allegedly hired organized crime members to threaten the reporter.

It is known that the organized crime member, who received 1 million won in cash from former Governor Oh, even visited the tea house operated by the reporter. Furthermore, in 2015, as compensation for this threat, the organized crime member received the watermelon transportation rights from 'Toyoae Distribution,' a local agricultural product distribution company invested in by Uiryeong County.

The court stated regarding former Governor Oh, "This is a case of power-type corruption seen only in movies, severely damaging the social trust in elected officials, and the nature of the crime is extremely bad." It added, "He showed no remorse, denying the crime, and has not been forgiven by the victim."

Meanwhile, former Governor Oh is currently incarcerated after being sentenced to 9 months in prison last September for embezzling 60 million won of operating funds from 'Toyoae Distribution,' a local agricultural product distribution company invested in by Uiryeong County, and using it as election funds.

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