'Violation of Election Law' Park Sang-don, Mayor of Cheonan, Acquitted → Suspended Prison Sentence

Court: "Search and seizure deemed legitimate... Responsible for failing to verify false information"
Mayor Park Sang-don: "Truth will be revealed at the Supreme Court"

After being convicted in the second trial, Park Sang-don, mayor of Cheonan, stated, "I will reveal the truth at the Supreme Court."

Unlike the first trial where he was acquitted, Park Sang-don, the mayor of Cheonan City, who is on trial for violating the Public Official Election Act during the 2022 local elections, was found guilty in the second trial.

On the 26th, the Criminal Division 3 of the Daejeon High Court (Chief Judge Kim Byung-sik) overturned the first trial's acquittal and sentenced him to one year in prison with a two-year probation during the appeal hearing held on the same day.

Mayor Park has been on trial for conspiring with A, an employee of Cheonan City Hall, to use their official positions to conduct election campaigns and for including false information in election publicity materials during the 2022 local elections.

The key issue in the trial was the illegality of the investigative agency's search and seizure and the content of the promotional materials and booklet-type election publicity materials that were reported as false. The promotional materials stated the employment status of Cheonan City in the second half of 2021 as "employment rate (63.8%, 2nd nationwide), unemployment rate (2.4%, lowest nationwide)," but this omitted the standard of "metropolitan cities with a population of over 500,000."

The first trial court ruled, "Although the defendant received some reports, there is insufficient evidence to determine the extent of his involvement," and "It is reasonable to suspect that the defendant presented his achievements, results, and policy directions in the promotional materials for his re-election, but there is no concrete evidence in the records to determine the degree of involvement," thus acquitting him.

However, the second trial court recognized the procedural legitimacy of the search and seizure and pointed out that the defendant was negligent in thoroughly investigating whether the facts announced through the publicity materials were true, holding him responsible for the dissemination of false information.

The court stated, "It appears clear that the defendant did not properly review the wording of the promotional materials, including his achievements and results," and "The defendant is responsible for neglecting to verify or investigate whether the legal basis for the facts stated was accurate and for failing to thoroughly investigate the truthfulness of the announced facts."

Furthermore, the court said, "Although the defendant, as the mayor of Cheonan, holds the position of a local government head who should promote election fairness and guide subordinate public officials to maintain political neutrality, he rather used his position to encourage election manipulation," adding, "However, considering that he has diligently performed his duties as mayor since winning the by-election and did not intentionally spread false information," explaining the sentencing rationale.

Immediately after the verdict, Mayor Park said, "There are parts that are different from the facts," and added, "I will reveal the truth to the end through an appeal to the Supreme Court."

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