Two Park Young-sun Campaign Officials Fined in First Trial for Supporting High School Students

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] Camp officials of the Democratic Party who allowed a minor to make a public endorsement speech at the campaign event of Democratic Party candidate Park Young-sun, who ran in last year's April 7 Seoul mayoral by-election, were fined.

The Criminal Division 11 of the Seoul Southern District Court (Presiding Judge Seong Bo-gi) sentenced two Democratic Party officials indicted for violating the Public Official Election Act to fines of 700,000 won each on the 17th.

The defendants, who were responsible for verifying the identity of speakers at the campaign event, were indicted for allowing a high school student born in 2004, who did not have voting rights, to make endorsement remarks and engage in election campaigning on a campaign stage set up in front of a mart in Yangcheon-gu in April last year.

The court stated, "The defendants claimed that they knew the person was a minor but argued that they did not know that allowing election campaigning was prohibited by law. However, ignorance of the law does not exempt them from liability," and ruled them guilty.

However, the court explained, "Considering that the election campaigning was stopped midway, the sentence is being imposed."

Mr. A (18) went up on the stage at candidate Park’s campaign event held in front of a mart in Yangcheon-gu on April 1 last year and said, "I am a second-year high school student born in 2004 and do not have voting rights, but I came here to support candidate Park," adding, "We must not choose the worst. At this moment, who is truly the worst candidate?"

Subsequently, an anonymous complainant filed a report against candidate Park’s campaign team with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency through the National Police Agency’s online complaint system. The police, having launched an investigation, sent two Democratic Party officials and Mr. A to the prosecution with a recommendation for indictment. However, the prosecution reportedly decided to suspend prosecution for Mr. A, considering his minor status.

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