"Jo Guk's Son Intern Reality"... Choi Kang-wook Faces First Trial Verdict Today for 'Public Official Election Act Violation' Charges

Choi Kang-wook, Leader of the Open Democratic Party / Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] The first trial sentencing hearing for Choi Kang-wook, leader of the Open Democratic Party, who was indicted for spreading false information during the election campaign period of the April 15 general election last year, will be held.

According to the court on the 8th, at 10 a.m. on the same day, the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 21-2 (Presiding Judge Kim Sang-yeon) will hold the sentencing hearing for Choi, who was indicted for violating the Public Official Election Act. Previously, the prosecution requested the court to sentence Choi to a fine of 3 million won. Elected officials lose their position if they are sentenced to a fine of 1 million won or more for violating the Public Official Election Act.

Choi, who ran as a proportional representative in the April 15 general election last year, was put on trial for violating the Public Official Election Act after making statements on a podcast broadcast before the election suggesting that Jo Mo, the son of former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, actually interned, in relation to allegations that he obstructed graduate school admissions by issuing a false law firm internship confirmation letter.

In the broadcast, Choi stated, "(Jo) interned since he was in high school," and mentioned, "The prosecution conducted 'prosecutorial politics' against me, who was in the Blue House Civil Affairs Office, ahead of the prosecution's senior personnel appointments." At that time, he was undergoing a first trial for obstruction of business charges.

At the previous closing argument hearing, the prosecution pointed out, "The defendant was frequently mentioned as number 2 on the Open Democratic Party proportional representation list and acknowledged the possibility of winning," adding, "He made false statements to increase his approval rating." They emphasized to the court, "Lies that prevent voters from making the right choice must be blocked."

On the other hand, Choi's side argued that the prosecution's actions were "selective prosecution and retaliatory prosecution." They claimed it is difficult to find precedents where a candidate was indicted for false information disclosure under the Public Official Election Act for statements made with an "innocent intent" regarding the charges against them, and that the prosecution's selective indictment of Choi constitutes an abuse of prosecutorial discretion.

Meanwhile, Choi was sentenced to 8 months in prison with a 2-year probation in the first trial in January for obstruction of business. He is also separately on trial for defamation of former Channel A reporter Lee Dong-jae by spreading false information on social networking services (SNS).

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