'Election Law Violation' Lawmaker Song Jae-ho Fined 900,000 Won in 1st and 2nd Trials... What Will the Supreme Court Decide?

[Asia Economy Reporter Bae Kyunghwan] The Supreme Court will deliver its final ruling on Song Jae-ho, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, who was prosecuted for spreading false information during the 21st National Assembly election and was fined 900,000 won in both the first and second trials.

On the 28th, the Supreme Court's First Division (Presiding Justice Park Jeong-hwa) will hold a sentencing hearing for Song, who was indicted for violating the Public Official Election Act.

Song was charged with false information publication under election law for stating on April 7, ahead of the April 15 general election, while campaigning at the Jeju City Folk Five-Day Market, that he asked President Moon Jae-in to attend the April 3 commemoration ceremony and promised the residents to amend the April 3 Special Act.

Additionally, on April 9 of the same month, he was accused of false information publication for stating during a candidate debate hosted by the Jeju Provincial Election Commission on a broadcasting station that he worked without pay while serving as the Chairman of the National Balanced Development Committee.

The first trial court ruled that Song's campaign statement was "reasonably considered to have expressed a specific fact" and found him guilty. However, the unpaid work statement made during the TV debate was judged as potentially an explanation of the campaign at the five-day market and was acquitted.

The appellate court also upheld the first trial's verdict, finding the five-day market campaign statement guilty and the broadcast debate statement not guilty, sentencing him to a fine of 900,000 won.

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