Overcharged for a Meal: Geochang and Hamyang Voters Hit with a 'Fine Bomb' for 10 Times the Meal Cost...

Voters Attending Kim Tae-ho Candidate Supporters' Meal Gatherings Fined One After Another
Basic Livelihood Security and Disabled Receive 50% Discount... 20% 'Enuri' Payment Within 3 Days
24 People at Jangsu Restaurant in Jeonbuk 9.07 Million Won, 16

Courtroom scene at Changwon District Court, Geochang Branch. [Provided by Seobugyeongnam Newspaper]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo, Geochang=Reporter Choi Soon-kyung] A fine bomb amounting to 10 times the meal cost was consecutively imposed in Gyeongnam for those who received a meal improperly.

Among those hit by the 'bomb', basic livelihood security recipients and people with disabilities received a 50% reduction, but they were shocked, having thought the meal was free.

In the April general election, voters in Hamyang and Geochang counties, Gyeongnam, who received meals from supporters of a specific candidate, were hit with fines amounting to 10 times the meal cost.

Former and current village chiefs who organized meal gatherings to support independent candidate Kim Tae-ho in the National Assembly election were consecutively sentenced to fines and suspended sentences, and voters who received meals from them were fined an amount equivalent to 10 times the meal cost.

According to the Geochang and Hamyang election commissions on the 24th, 24 residents of Hamyang County who were invited to a meal gathering at a restaurant in Janggyemyeon, Jangsu County, Jeonbuk, were fined 480,000 KRW each, which is 10 times the 48,000 KRW meal cost per person, last month.

It was revealed that they received beef and meals at the restaurant on March 20th, ahead of the general election.

If the fine payment is made within 3 days after receiving the prior notice of fine disposition, a 20% reduction can be applied, so the actual amount paid by each person was 384,000 KRW.

Among them, one person was disabled and received a 50% reduction, paying 241,000 KRW. The total amount of fines paid by the 24 people was reported to be 9,073,000 KRW.

Also, two residents who received meals worth about 12,500 KRW each at a restaurant in Anui-myeon, Hamyang County, on the evening of March 21st were each fined 125,000 KRW, 10 times the meal cost, and after a 20% reduction, paid 100,000 KRW each.

On April 7th in Geochang County, 16 voters who attended a meal gathering led by three former and current presidents of the Geochang Youth Chamber of Commerce were each fined 310,000 KRW.

The Geochang County election commission charged each of the 16 voters who participated in the meal gathering on October 12th with a fine of 310,000 KRW, which is 10 times the meal cost of 31,000 KRW.

They also received prior notice of fine disposition and paid within 3 days to receive a 20% reduction, paying 248,000 KRW each.

Among them, one person was a basic livelihood security recipient and received a 50% reduction, paying 150,500 KRW. The total amount of fines paid by the 16 people was 3,875,000 KRW.