Prosecutors Seek Fine for Go Min-jeong Election Campaign Chief Prosecuted for 'False Publicity Materials'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] The prosecution has requested a fine for a current Seoul city council member who was indicted for including false information in the election leaflet of Go Min-jeong, a Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker, during last year's 21st general election.

On the 10th, at the Seoul Eastern District Court Criminal Division 11 (Presiding Judge Yoon Kyung-ah), the prosecution asked the court to sentence Kim (44), a Seoul city council member, to a fine of 1.5 million won during the final trial.

Kim was charged with violating the Public Official Election Act for posting a photo and statements of Mr. A, a resident autonomy committee member and local merchants' association president, without consent in the election leaflet while serving as the head of the election headquarters at Go's campaign from March to April last year.

The leaflet included a statement attributed to Mr. A saying, "If there were ten lawmakers like Go Min-jeong, South Korea would be a better place to live," but Mr. A claimed he never expressed support for Go nor permitted the use of his statement in the leaflet.

The Gwangjin District Election Commission referred Go and Kim to the prosecution in April last year, citing regulations that resident autonomy committee members are prohibited from election campaigning. The prosecution decided not to indict Go but proceeded with the trial against Kim, who was responsible for the leaflet.

Kim's side has argued that he had no actual authority within the campaign and did not lead the leaflet production, denying any intent. In court, Kim stated, "I believed that consent for leaflet content should naturally be obtained by the candidate or the campaign manager, and all I did was receive the photo from Mr. A and pass it on," adding, "It is very distressing to be falsely accused of having received even the (support) phrase."

Kim's sentencing trial is scheduled for the 2nd of next month.

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