Jong-woo Park, Mayor of Geoje, Fully Denies Election Law Violations in First Trial

Park Jong-woo, mayor of Geoje City, Gyeongnam, is leaving the courthouse after the first trial related to a violation of the Public Official Election Act.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Park Jong-woo, mayor of Geoje City, Gyeongnam, who is on trial for violating the Public Official Election Act, completely denied the charges at the first hearing held on the 20th.

According to the court, Mayor Park was accused by the Geoje Election Commission of being involved in providing 13 million won in three installments to an employee of National Assembly member Seo Il-jun through a publicity team member in exchange for recruiting party membership applications, providing party member lists, and promoting on social networking services (SNS) ahead of last year's nationwide local elections.

Although he was not prosecuted in December last year due to insufficient evidence, the Geoje Election Commission filed a rehearing request, which was recently accepted by the Changwon branch of the Busan High Court, leading to the trial.

At the first hearing held at the Tongyeong branch of Changwon District Court on the same day, Mayor Park’s defense attorney claimed, “Mayor Park did not conspire with publicity team member A during the local elections and did not give him any money.”

He also stated, “No money was provided to other publicity team members such as B in exchange for election campaigning.”

The prosecutor stated the charges, saying, “Mayor Park conspired with A to provide money related to election campaigning and made payments and donations to influence the election.”

After the first hearing, Mayor Park said, “I will sincerely participate in the upcoming trials.”

The next hearing is scheduled to be held at 2 p.m. on September 4 in the same courtroom.

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