'Cash Provided to Reporter' Kang Jong-man, Mayor of Yeonggwang-gun, Loses Position in Second Trial

Former Yeonggwang County Governor Kang Jong-man, who gave cash to a reporter from a media outlet before the election, was sentenced to lose his position again in the appellate trial.

The Criminal Division 1 of the Gwangju High Court (Presiding Judge Park Hye-seon) dismissed Kang's appeal on the 30th in the appellate trial, where he was indicted for violating the Public Official Election Act and was fined 2 million won in the first trial.

If an elected public official is sentenced to a fine of 1 million won or more for violating the Public Official Election Act, the election is invalidated and the official loses their position.

Kang was prosecuted on charges of providing 1 million won in cash to a local media reporter in January last year, five months before the June 1 local elections, asking for help.

The court pointed out, "The Public Official Election Act strictly prohibits candidates and others from making donations, and this crime directly undermines the legislative intent, so the culpability is not light."

It added, "Despite having a history of being stripped of the governor position due to bribery charges in the past, he did not restrain himself and committed the crime again."

Immediately after the appellate verdict, Governor Kang expressed his intention to appeal to the Supreme Court, saying, "I cannot trust the trial result" and objecting to the ruling.

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