Nonghyup Union Chief Fined for Sticking 50,000-Won Bill into Ancestral Table Pig's Head

Former Nonghyup Union Chief Accused of 'Donation Acts' During Tenure
Providing Financial Benefits to Voters During Term Punishable as Donation Acts

[Photo by Yonhap News]

A former cooperative head was fined for inserting a 50,000 won bill into a pig's head on a ceremonial table at a New Year's greeting event. This was because he was found guilty of prohibited 'donation activities' during his tenure as cooperative head.

On the 18th, Judge Im Young-sil of the Gwangju District Court Criminal Division 9 announced that A (69), a former cooperative head who was indicted for violating the Act on Public Organizations and Entrusted Elections, was sentenced to a fine of 500,000 won.

In January 2020, while serving as the head of a Nonghyup cooperative in Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju, Mr. A attended a New Year's greeting event organized by the cooperative's mountaineering club. At the event, a ceremonial table was prepared to pray for the village's peace and prosperity, and Mr. A was prosecuted for donation activities after inserting a 50,000 won bill into the pig's head on the table.

Heads and central presidents of Nonghyup, Suhyup, and forestry cooperatives are punished for donation activities if they provide or express intent to provide financial benefits to voters or their families during their tenure.

The Act on Public Organizations and Entrusted Elections stipulates that violations are punishable by imprisonment of up to three years or a fine of up to 30 million won.

The purpose of prohibiting donation activities during tenure is to prevent incumbent cooperative heads from using donations to build potential support bases that could influence future elections and undermine election fairness.

Mr. A ran in the 3rd nationwide simultaneous cooperative head elections held in March this year but was defeated. The court judged that the act of inserting money into the pig's head did not affect the election.

The court pointed out, "The defendant has a prior record of punishment for similar crimes, and such acts undermine the operation of a fair and transparent election system, so the culpability is not light." It added, "However, considering the defendant's remorse, the motive for the donation, the frequency of the donation acts, and the amount involved, the crime is relatively minor and the donation did not affect the election results. Based on these factors, a fine is imposed."

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