'Offering Bribes' Jo Young-dal, Former Seoul Education Superintendent Candidate, Receives Suspended Prison Sentence in First Trial

Former candidate Cho Young-dal (63) was sentenced to a suspended prison term in the first trial for giving money illegally to campaign workers during last year's Seoul Superintendent of Education election, on charges of violating the Local Education Autonomy Act.

Former Seoul Superintendent of Education candidate Jo Young-dal is attending the Seoul Superintendent of Education election candidates' debate held at KBS in Yeouido, Seoul, on May 23 last year. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group

On the 24th, the Criminal Division 27 of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Kim Ok-gon) sentenced former candidate Cho, who was indicted while in custody for violating the Local Education Autonomy Act, to one year in prison with a two-year suspension. Other campaign officials indicted alongside him were also given suspended prison sentences or fines.

The court stated, "In a situation where there was at least a tacit awareness that the funds could be used for purposes other than legitimate election expenses, the money was transferred," and added, "We do not accept the claim that there was no intent to provide money in violation of the law and recognize all charges as guilty."

Earlier, former candidate Cho was accused of paying 50 million won to Mr. A, the head of the campaign support headquarters, exceeding the legal limit during the election process. Regarding this, Mr. A reportedly distributed about 11 million won to campaign officials from April to June, and Mr. B, the general headquarters chief of the campaign, provided about 30 million won to campaign officials from March to May, according to investigations.

Cho, who previously served as the Presidential Secretary for Education and Culture and as Dean of the College of Education at Seoul National University, ranked fourth in this year's election with 6.63% of the vote. The winner was Superintendent Cho Hee-yeon, who received 38.1% of the vote.

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