Fine of 800,000 Won for General Election Candidate Who Put Up Banner Saying "Stop Na Kyung-won Dongjak"

Seoul Dongjak Minjung Party Rival Candidate
Criticized with Banner Posting... Violation of Election Law

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] A competing candidate who was prosecuted for putting up a banner criticizing former United Future Party candidate Na Kyung-won during the 21st general election campaign was sentenced to a fine in the first trial.

According to the legal community on the 8th, the Criminal Division 21 of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Kim Mi-ri) sentenced Choi Mo (29), who was indicted for violating the Public Official Election Act, to a fine of 800,000 won.

Choi, who ran as a Minjung Party candidate in Dongjak District, Seoul, in this year's general election, was indicted for posting a banner in front of Na's constituency office in the same electoral district in March that read, "Na Kyung-won candidate's public security election, Na Kyung-won candidate, stop Dongjak."

At the time, Choi reportedly criticized Na by saying, "I hope you stop playing the victim and abandon the old election frame that uses colorism."

The Public Official Election Act stipulates that advertisements influencing elections cannot be posted from 180 days before the election day until the election day.

The court stated the sentencing reason, saying, "The guilt is not light as it made election management difficult and obstructed a fair election," and "As a candidate running for election, not complying with the law and directly committing the offense is more blameworthy."