'Microphone Use Election Law Violation' Charge Against Choi Jae-hyung, First Trial on the 19th of Next Month

Choi Jae-hyung, Chairman of the Innovation Committee of the People Power Party, is attending the full meeting of the Innovation Committee held at the National Assembly on the 5th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] The first trial of Choi Jaehyung, a member of the People Power Party who was indicted for allegedly conducting microphone election campaigning outside the official campaign period while competing against President Yoon Seok-yeol during the 20th presidential election, will be held next month.

According to the legal community on the 8th, the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 27 (Chief Judge Kim Ok-gon) will hold Choi's first trial on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act at 11 a.m. on the 19th of next month. According to the defendant's obligation to appear in formal trials, Choi must appear in court in person.

After retiring as the head of the Board of Audit and Inspection last year, Choi ran as a presidential candidate for the People Power Party. In August of the same year, at the entrance of Seomun Market in Jung-gu, Daegu, he took a microphone handed by an aide and said, "Everyone, you are having a hard time, right? You have suffered under this administration," and added, "I, Choi Jaehyung, will achieve a regime change. Please trust me."

At that time, the official campaign period had not yet started. However, Article 59, Clause 4 of the Public Official Election Act, which regulates election campaigning allowed before the campaign period, permits campaigning by phone or verbally when it is not election day, but prohibits the use of loudspeakers or election campaigning targeting multiple people at outdoor gatherings.

Additionally, Article 91, Paragraph 1 of the Public Official Election Act (Restrictions on the Use of Loudspeakers and Automobiles) states, "No one may use loudspeakers for election campaigning except when used for speeches, debates, or discussions in public places as stipulated by this law," thereby banning the use of loudspeakers in cases other than speeches, debates, or discussions under the Public Official Election Act.

The civic group Judicial Justice Restoration Citizens' Action stated, "Despite being an expert who served as a judge for 30 years handling numerous election cases and having experience as the chairman of the Daejeon Election Commission, he violated the law," and filed a complaint against Choi for violating the Public Official Election Act.

At the time, Choi's side issued a statement expressing regret, saying, "Regardless of the reasons, we regret causing controversy over violating the election law."

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