Cheonan Mayor Park Sangdon, Accused of Election Law Violation, Loses Mayoral Seat Again in Retrial (Comprehensive)

Court: "Prison Sentence for Electioneering Using Public Officials"
Mayor Park: "Will Decide on Appeal After Careful Consideration"

On the 17th, Park Sangdon, the mayor of Cheonan, is leaving the courthouse.

Park Sangdon, the mayor of Cheonan from the People Power Party, received a sentence that nullifies his election in the retrial on remand.

The Daejeon High Court's 1st Criminal Division (Presiding Judge Park Jinhwan) sentenced Mayor Park to six months in prison, suspended for two years, in the retrial on remand for violating the Public Official Election Act on the 17th.

The court stated, "According to legal principles, parts that have already been finalized by the Supreme Court cannot be reconsidered even if new arguments are presented," and added, "For the charge of using public officials for electioneering, only imprisonment can be sentenced."

Previously, the Supreme Court found Mayor Park not guilty of the charge of spreading false information.

After the sentencing, Mayor Park said, "I will decide whether to appeal after careful consideration."

Mayor Park was brought to trial on charges of using his position as a public official for electioneering in the 8th nationwide local elections in 2022, and for omitting the population standard when listing the city's unemployment and employment rates in campaign materials.

The first trial court acquitted Mayor Park, but the appellate court found that he was grossly negligent in fulfilling his duty to verify, and sentenced him to one year and six months in prison, suspended for two years.

The Supreme Court overturned the appellate court's decision and sent the case back to the Daejeon High Court, considering that Mayor Park did not even recognize the omission of the population standard, and ruled partially in his favor.

Meanwhile, elected public officials lose their positions if they receive a confirmed sentence of a fine of 1 million won or more for this offense.

If Mayor Park does not appeal or if the Supreme Court confirms the sentence by the 28th of next month, a by-election will be held on April 2.

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