'Gwangju Club Collapse' Lee Sang-dong, President of Gwangju Sports Council, Released on Probation in Second Trial

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Jin-hyung] Lee Sang-dong, president of the Gwangju Sports Council, who was sentenced to prison in the first trial for lobbying to enact the 'Dance Permission Ordinance' that caused the Gwangju club collapse accident, was given a suspended sentence in the appeal trial.

The Gwangju District Court Criminal Division 3 (Presiding Judge Kim Tae-ho) on the 29th overturned the original sentence of 1 year and 2 months imprisonment in the appeal trial of Lee (suspended from duty, 60), who was indicted on charges of violating the Attorney-at-Law Act, embezzlement in the course of duty, and violation of the Act on the Prohibition of Improper Solicitation and Graft, and sentenced him to a 2-year suspended sentence with the same term. The order to confiscate 53 million won remains unchanged.

Lee was prosecuted on charges of receiving 50 million won in cash from a club operator as a bribe to pass the 'Ordinance allowing dancing in general restaurants' at the Standing Committee of the Gwangju Seo-gu Council in June 2016 (violation of the Attorney-at-Law Act).

He is also charged with conspiring with a liquor company partner in January 2017 to offer 3 million won in cash as a holiday gift to a public health center official, and after being refused, expressing intent to provide more than 1 million won in valuables, as well as embezzling 108 million won of liquor company funds.

The court stated the sentencing reason, saying, "In the appeal trial, he acknowledged his wrongdoing and showed a reflective attitude," and "considering that he returned all the damages and that the defendant's family and acquaintances petitioned for leniency, we made a judgment by comprehensively considering various sentencing conditions."

Meanwhile, Lee was elected president of the Gwangju Sports Council on May 13 last year, but as allegations of unqualified voter participation and election fraud arose, the opposing candidate filed an 'injunction lawsuit to suspend the president's duties,' which the court accepted, resulting in Lee's suspension from duty on July 16 last year, 65 days after his inauguration.

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