'Election Law Violation' Rep. Lee Gyumin Sentenced to Disqualification in Second Trial... Facing Loss of Assembly Seat

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] Lee Gyu-min, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea (Gyeonggi Anseong), who was indicted for publishing false information about an opposing candidate in election campaign materials during the 21st National Assembly election, was sentenced to a penalty that invalidates his election in the appellate court.

The Criminal Division 2 of Suwon High Court (Presiding Judge Kim Kyung-ran) overturned the original verdict of not guilty and sentenced Lee to a fine of 3 million KRW on the 23rd in the appellate trial for violating the Public Official Election Act. If this sentence is finalized as is, Lee will have to relinquish his seat in the National Assembly. Elected officials lose their positions if a fine of 1 million KRW or more is confirmed for violating the Public Official Election Act.

The court stated, "Election campaign materials containing candidates' careers and pledges greatly influence voters' choices," and added, "Considerable care must be taken when preparing them."

It continued, "Considering the role of the election campaign materials in the election and the expressions contained therein, the main purpose was to cause the opponent's defeat," and "Given the nature of the election campaign materials, the crime is not minor, and considering the defendant's prior record of punishment for violating the Public Official Election Act."

Lee was indicted for publishing false information in the April 15 general election campaign materials last year, claiming that then-United Future Party candidate Kim Hak-yong "rode a bike and proposed a bill allowing bikes to enter highways."

At that time, the bill that candidate Kim had sponsored allowed large motorcycles with engine displacement exceeding 260cc to travel on motor vehicle-only roads, not highways.

In the first trial on February 1, Lee was acquitted. The court reasoned, "Although describing a motor vehicle-only road as a highway constitutes false information, the defendant created the campaign materials based on a misreported news article during the election campaign," and "It is difficult to see that the defendant clearly recognized the difference between motor vehicle-only roads and highways and was aware of the falsehood regarding the highway part."

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