Assemblyman Yoon Sang-hyun fined 800,000 won for election law violation... 'General election manipulation' acquitted (Comprehensive)

People Power Party Representative Yoon Sang-hyun [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] Yoon Sang-hyun, a member of the People Power Party who was indicted on allegations related to the so-called 'general election manipulation' involving 'hamba (temporary construction site restaurants) brokers' such as Yoo Sang-bong (76) during the April 15 general election, has been acquitted by the court.

The Criminal Division 15 of the Incheon District Court (Chief Judge Lee Gyu-hoon) sentenced Representative Yoon to a fine of 800,000 won at the verdict hearing held on the afternoon of the 17th on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act.

The court ruled that the charge against Representative Yoon for providing meals worth about 60,000 won to six people, including journalists who were indicted together, constituted a violation of the Public Official Election Act. However, most of the core issues regarding the 'general election manipulation' allegations were judged as not guilty.

Yoon was indicted without detention on charges including providing various conveniences to Mr. Yoo in exchange for assistance in election campaigning after running as an independent candidate in the Incheon Dong-gu Michuhol constituency during the April 15, 2020 general election.

He was accused of ordering Mr. Yoo to file a false complaint against his rival candidate, then Future United Party (now People Power Party) former Representative Ahn Sang-soo (75), and having this content reported through a media outlet.

In fact, Mr. Yoo submitted a false complaint to the prosecution claiming that "in 2009, when former Representative Ahn was serving as mayor of Incheon, he received tens of billions of won through mistresses as a reward for securing construction site rights."

Subsequently, a media outlet reported false articles based on this complaint related to former Representative Ahn, and it was revealed that Representative Yoon provided meals to the media outlet's CEO and others after the false report.

While Representative Yoon admitted to providing conveniences to Mr. Yoo, he completely denied any connection to the general election, whereas Mr. Yoo claimed that he submitted the false complaint to the prosecution at Yoon's instruction.

The court stated, "Although the defendant (Representative Yoon) introduced influential figures such as a former prosecutor general lawyer to Mr. Yoo, there is no fact that this resulted in hamba contracts or actual benefits," and added, "Looking at the defendant's call records, there is suspicion that he received reports about the crime from A (a secretary), but it is not possible to know what was discussed in the calls."

It also stated, "Regarding the charge that the defendant promised hamba contracts in exchange for election assistance from the Yoo family, the evidence submitted by the prosecution consists only of Mr. Yoo's statements and letters," and added, "Mr. Yoo frequently changed his statements according to his position, and a significant part of those statements and letters were proven false."

On this day, the court sentenced Mr. Yoo, who was indicted together on charges including violation of the Public Official Election Act, to four years in prison; A (55), former secretary to Representative Yoon, to three years in prison; and Mr. Yoo's son to two years and six months in prison.

Mr. Yoo was indicted on charges of receiving 10 million won from Secretary A in exchange for election campaigning and receiving special favors such as hamba restaurant contracts and entry into the food section of Lotte Department Store.

Additionally, Secretary A was charged with conspiring with Mr. Yoo's son to file a false complaint against former Representative Ahn.

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