Court Fines Chung Dongyoung 700,000 Won for Election Law Violation... Keeps Parliamentary Seat

Democratic Party lawmaker Dongyoung Jeong (Jeonju-si Byeong, Jeonbuk), who was indicted on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act, is heading to the Jeonju District Court on the 19th to attend his trial. Photo by Yonhap News

Jeong Dongyoung, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, who was indicted on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act (including preliminary election campaigning), was sentenced to a fine of 700,000 won in the first trial. Even if this sentence is finalized, he will retain his parliamentary seat.

The 11th Criminal Division of the Jeonju District Court (Presiding Judge Kim Sanggon) found Jeong guilty of preliminary election campaigning and not guilty of disseminating false information during the sentencing hearing held on the 19th.

The court stated, "Although Representative Jeong did not explicitly ask for votes during his speech, considering the meaning and context of his remarks, it is judged to be electioneering soliciting support." However, regarding the charge of disseminating false information, the court found him not guilty, stating, "It is difficult to conclude that Representative Jeong intentionally made false statements at that time."

Jeong was indicted for expressing his intention to run for office and soliciting support using a microphone at a community housing event in his constituency prior to the official campaign period for the general election. He was also charged with disseminating false information after denying allegations at a press conference that he had asked supporters to respond as being in their 20s during a public opinion poll, calling it "fake news."

After the trial, Jeong said, "I am grateful for the court's wise judgment," and added, "I will faithfully fulfill my role as a representative of the people going forward."

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