'Illegal Seol Gift' Yang Hyang-ja Former Special Advisor "I Took the Lead... The Lawmaker Didn't Know"

First Trial: Statement Reversed from "Conspired"

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Jin-hyung] The former special aide to National Assembly member Yang Hyang-ja, who is accused of violating the Public Official Election Act, changed his stance from the first trial where he claimed to have conspired with Yang.

At that time, he testified that Yang did not even know the list and that it was a "solo crime."

The 12th Criminal Division of the Gwangju District Court (Presiding Judge No Jae-ho) held a trial on the 20th for Yang Hyang-ja and her cousin and former special aide, Mr. A.

Mr. A, appearing as a witness, stated during the prosecution’s questioning, "I first suggested giving Lunar New Year gifts because the public opinion was unfavorable due to neglecting constituency management such as hosting meals, and Yang said she wanted to eliminate bad customs and refused."

He added, "After continuous persuasion, it was agreed to give gifts carefully so as not to violate the election law together with Yang."

He explained that Mr. A took full control and pushed forward the matter, while Yang only grasped the general details.

He said he never directly handed over a file with the organized list and only reported verbally that gifts would be given grouped by acquaintances and fellow lawmakers, so Yang had only an abstract understanding.

In response, the prosecution rebutted by pointing out that Yang instructed to add certain executives from a large corporation to the gift list. Their logic was that Yang could not have instructed adding people omitted from the first list without checking the list in detail.

Mr. A explained, "Yang gave instructions without checking the list, and the aides confirmed whether those individuals were already included in the existing list."

Another point of suspicion was raised.

Yang and her spouse spent 15.3 million KRW of personal funds to purchase gifts. It was pointed out as not smooth that she had never even seen the list despite this considerable expenditure from personal money, not political donations.

Yang’s defense attorney expressed during Mr. A’s cross-examination that the perception of the amount varies depending on the scale of assets.

Also, Mr. A claimed a 'mistake of law,' saying, "If the delivery address of the gift recipient is not in the constituency, it does not violate the election law."

He explained that he instructed a secretary to ask the Election Commission about the legality, and was told that gifts to fellow lawmakers and acquaintances are allowed, but gifts to constituents or those connected to them are not.

Accordingly, at first, recipients residing in Seo-gu Eul were excluded, but later the delivery address was changed to the company address instead of the residence. He argued it was not an evasion but that "as long as it is not the constituency address, it is acceptable."

Mr. A admitted that he acted independently without conspiring but gave testimony different from Yang’s position that "she never instructed to add five more people to the gift list." He said, "I think she does not remember well about that part."

At the trial, former secretary Kim, who is a sexual harassment victim of Mr. A, also appeared as a witness. Kim testified that "based on a note believed to be in Yang’s handwriting, three executives from a large corporation were additionally added to the gift list."

Meanwhile, Yang and Mr. A were indicted on charges of giving fruit boxes worth a total of 1.9 million KRW to 43 people including constituents and reporters from January 28 to February 9.

The next trial is scheduled for 2 p.m. on January 24 next year.

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