Supreme Court Upholds 2 Million Won Fine for Jeon Kwanghoon for Supporting Candidate While Voting Rights Revoked
Pastor Jeon Kwanghoon of Sarang Jeil Church, who was indicted for making statements in support of a specific candidate during a church service while his voting rights were revoked, has been sentenced to a fine of 2 million won.
The Supreme Court's Second Division (Presiding Justice Eom Sangpil) on September 4 upheld the lower court's ruling that sentenced Pastor Jeon to a fine of 2 million won for violating the Public Official Election Act.
Pastor Jeon was accused of making statements during a Sarang Jeil Church service in November 2021, ahead of the 20th presidential election, such as, "The presidential election on March 9 is a done deal; Kim Gyeongjae will become president," and, "If you have someone with the knowledge, historical awareness, and experience like President Kim Gyeongjae, bring him. This prophet does all the dirty work at the bottom."
Previously, in August 2018, Pastor Jeon had been given a suspended prison sentence for violating election laws, resulting in the loss of his voting rights for 10 years and making him ineligible to participate in election campaigns.
Jeon argued that his remarks were merely expressions of opinion or intent, but the first trial court stated, "It was just four months before the presidential election held in March 2022, and the defendant recorded and broadcast his sermon to a large number of congregants, which constitutes an active and deliberate act intended to ensure the election of a specific candidate." The court sentenced him to a fine of 2 million won.
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The appellate court upheld the first trial court's sentence of a 2 million won fine. The appellate judges stated, "It is difficult to regard the remarks in question as religious activities," and added, "We concur with the first trial court that the defendant used his position as the head pastor." On this day, the Supreme Court also found no fault in the lower courts' decisions and dismissed the appeal.
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