Former Lawmaker Min Kyung-wook Sentenced to Probation with Fine in First Trial for Illegal Gwangbokjeol Rally During COVID-19 Period

Former Future United Party (predecessor of the People Power Party) lawmaker Min Kyung-wook, who was prosecuted for organizing an illegal rally at Gwanghwamun on Liberation Day during the COVID-19 pandemic, was sentenced to a fine with a suspended sentence.

Former National Assembly member Min Kyung-wook. [Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 22nd, Judge Kim Taek-hyung of the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 9 sentenced Min, who was charged with violating the Assembly and Demonstration Act, to a fine of 500,000 won with a one-year suspended sentence. Sung Chang-kyung, former chairman of the KBS Public Union, who was also indicted, was sentenced to a fine of 300,000 won with a one-year suspended sentence. The court acquitted Min of violating the Assembly and Demonstration Act but found him guilty of violating the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act.

The court stated, "According to the Assembly and Demonstration Act, an organizer is someone who holds a rally under their own name and responsibility. Min participated in the rally by chance without prior planning and did not lead, command, or direct the rally. It is also difficult to consider that he held the rally under his own name and responsibility."

Min is accused of holding a large-scale rally on August 15, 2020, Liberation Day, in the Jongno and Euljiro 1-ga Station areas, violating the Seoul city’s ban on rallies and holding the event outside the permitted rally zones together with the '4·15 Fraudulent Election National Struggle Headquarters.'

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