Sejong City Councilman Sang Byeongheon, Sentenced to 1 Year and 6 Months in Prison, Assigned to Appellate Court

Appellate Court Assignment
Criminal Division 5-2 to Handle Second Trial After Criminal Division 8 Single Judge Oversaw First Trial

Daejeon District and High Court

The appellate court has been assigned for the case of Sang Byeongheon, a member of the Sejong City Council from the Democratic Party of Korea, who was indicted on charges of forcibly molesting two fellow council members, filing a counter-complaint with the police to have the victims criminally prosecuted by providing false information, and subsequently being charged with false accusation.

This case occurred in 2022 and was brought to trial in May of the following year, with the first trial lasting nearly three years. During the trial, Councilman Sang consistently denied the charges but abruptly changed his stance this year and admitted to all charges. It is reported that no settlement has yet been reached with the victims. On July 24 of last month, the Criminal Division 8 Single Judge of the Daejeon District Court, which presided over the first trial, sentenced Councilman Sang to one year and six months in prison, after which he immediately filed an appeal. The appellate trial will be handled by the Criminal Division 5-2.

While still holding his elected office, Councilman Sang is currently subject to disciplinary procedures by the Ethics Tribunal of the Sejong City branch of the Democratic Party and the Special Ethics Committee within the council, which are determining the level of disciplinary action. Councilman Sang, who is also a member of the Special Ethics Committee with the authority to decide on disciplinary measures such as expulsion and submit them to the plenary session, will be excluded from meetings related to his own case.

Kim Chungsik, chair of the Special Ethics Committee, told Asia Economy, "Councilman Sang Byeongheon will be excluded from meetings only regarding his own case."

Some council members have expressed doubts about whether proper disciplinary procedures will be carried out. One Democratic Party council member told a reporter by phone, "It is true that there is some hesitation in referring Councilman Sang, with whom we have spent the past three years, to the Special Ethics Committee for disciplinary action."

Councilman Sang was criminally charged in 2022 for forcibly molesting a fellow council member from the People Power Party as well as a fellow member from his own party, and is still on trial for these charges.

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