Prosecution Seeks 1-Year Prison Sentence for Mayor Jo Gwang-han on Hiring Involvement Charges

Prosecutors: "Integrity and fairness compromised in hiring process"
Mayor Cho: "Did not interfere with Personnel Committee formation"

Jokwanghan, Mayor of Namyangju City

[Asia Economy Reporter Ra Young-cheol] On the 10th, the prosecution requested a one-year prison sentence for Cho Gwang-han, mayor of Namyangju City, Gyeonggi Province, who was indicted without detention on charges of obstruction of business for involvement in the recruitment of executives at affiliated organizations.

At the sentencing hearing held on the same day under the presiding of Judge Jang Chang-guk of the Criminal Division 1 at Uijeongbu District Court, the prosecution stated, "Defendant Mayor Cho instructed to hire Mr. A as the head of the Audit Office of Namyangju Urban Corporation," and added, "He undermined the appropriateness and fairness of the recruitment process," explaining the reason for the sentence request.

Mayor Cho is accused of proposing Mr. A to apply for the position of head of the Audit Office at Namyangju Urban Corporation in May 2019, promising recruitment and instructing the responsible staff to expedite the hiring procedures.

In response, Mayor Cho's lawyer argued for acquittal, stating, "For obstruction of business by deception to be recognized, there must be manipulation of interview scores or a definitive preselection, but there is no such fact at all."

Mayor Cho also denied the charges in his final defense, saying, "I did not know Mr. A well and only hoped that a good talent would be hired. I did not interfere with the recruitment work or leak false information, nor was I involved in the composition of the personnel committee."

Meanwhile, the prosecution requested a fine of 10 million won for Mr. A, who was the recruitment party with the same charges as Mayor Cho, and a six-month prison sentence each for three current and former employees of Namyangju City and Namyangju Urban Corporation.

The sentencing trial for these individuals will be held on the 24th at the same court.

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