"Kim Jin-tae's 'False Pledge' Remark... Min Byung-hee, Superintendent of Education, Fined 700,000 Won in Second Trial"

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] Min Byung-hee, Superintendent of Gangwon Provincial Office of Education, who was indicted for criticizing candidate Kim Jin-tae's pledge in the last general election, was sentenced to a fine of 700,000 won in the second trial as well.

On the 21st, the Criminal Division 1 of the Chuncheon Branch of the Seoul High Court (Chief Judge Park Jae-woo) sentenced Superintendent Min, who was indicted for violating the Public Official Election Act, to the same fine of 700,000 won as in the first trial.

On that day, the court stated, "It is possible to recognize criminal intent not only because the candidate's pledge did not align with the education office's policy but also because the statement was made in a way that said 'You should not try to gather votes like that'." Furthermore, the court rejected the claim of justifiable conduct by stating, "A pledge is a promise by a candidate to the public to realize something, so it is difficult to immediately conclude it is false."

Earlier, Superintendent Min was brought to trial on charges of violating the political neutrality obligation of public officials for saying that Kim Jin-tae, a preliminary candidate of the United Future Party, made a false pledge regarding the establishment of an international school during a press conference on March 25 last year, ahead of the general election candidate registration.

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