Supreme Court Confirms Suspended Sentence for Former National Assembly Secretary-General Kwon O-eul for Election Law Violation

Supreme Court. / Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] Former Secretary General of the National Assembly Kwon O-eul, who was prosecuted for providing money to unregistered election campaign workers, has had his suspended prison sentence upheld by the Supreme Court. He served as a member of the 15th to 17th National Assembly and was Secretary General of the National Assembly from 2010 to 2011.

On the 14th, the Supreme Court's 2nd Division (Presiding Justice Park Sang-ok) announced that it upheld the lower court's ruling sentencing former Secretary General Kwon to 10 months in prison with a 2-year suspension in the appeal trial for violating the Public Official Election Act.

In the 2018 Gyeongsangbuk-do gubernatorial election, Kwon ran as a candidate for the Bareunmirae Party but lost. He was prosecuted on charges of giving 5 million won each to two individuals who acted as speakers without registering as election staff after the election. Article 135, Paragraph 3 of the Public Official Election Act stipulates that "No one shall give or receive money or other benefits related to election campaigning, except for allowances, actual expenses, or other benefits provided."

The first trial court ruled him guilty, stating, "During the investigation, he coached unregistered election campaign workers to make false statements or instructed them to conceal some facts." It also noted, "He has three prior convictions for similar crimes," and sentenced him to 10 months in prison with a 2-year suspension.

The second trial court also dismissed Kwon’s appeal, stating, "It is recognized that the defendant provided money to unregistered election campaign workers using party funds, undermining the legislative intent of the Public Official Election Act."

The Supreme Court agreed with this judgment. The court stated, "The lower court did not err in its understanding of the intent and conspiracy regarding the violation of the Public Official Election Act, the recognition of illegality, or the suspension of the statute of limitations for election crimes."

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