Prosecution Seeks 3-Year Prison Sentence for Namyangju Mayor Jo Gwang-han on Charges of Violating Public Official Election Act

Jokwanghan, Mayor of Namyangju City

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Tae-min] The prosecution has requested the court to sentence Cho Gwang-han, mayor of Namyangju City, Gyeonggi Province, who was indicted for intervening in the recruitment of party members for a specific candidate of the Democratic Party ahead of the last general election, to three years in prison and two years of disqualification.

On the 13th, the Uijeongbu District Prosecutors' Office, during the first trial sentencing hearing held at the Uijeongbu District Court Criminal Division 11 (Chief Judge Lee Moon-se), demanded a prison term of two years and six months for Cho on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act, and six months for violating the Local Public Officials Act. They also separately requested two years of disqualification.

The prosecution explained the reason for the demand, stating, "The mayor, who should maintain election neutrality, undermined the fairness and neutrality of elections, which are the foundation of democracy, by intervening in the recruitment of party members to defeat a specific candidate through A, the political secretary at the time."

The prosecution believes that ahead of the Democratic Party's Namyangju-eul district primary for the April 15 general election last year, Cho was involved in recruiting party members through A, the political secretary at the time, with the intention of defeating the incumbent lawmaker Kim Han-jung, who was seeking re-election, and electing Kim Bong-jun, a former Blue House secretary.

In response, Cho's lawyer argued, "There is no objective evidence that Mayor Cho instructed the recruitment of party members, and the only testimony is from A, who is in a conflictual relationship." He further claimed innocence, stating, "The prosecution failed to specify the timing of the recruitment, whether they were party members, or the impact on the election."

On the same day, the prosecution demanded a prison term of 10 months and one year of disqualification for former political secretary A, who was indicted alongside Mayor Cho, and prison terms ranging from six months to one year and disqualification periods of one to two years for five others involved in recruiting party members. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for the afternoon of February 15 next year.

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