Real Estate Expert Seon Dae-in Fined for Insulting Mi Tongdang Candidate in Last General Election

Seoul Central District Court, Seocho-gu, Seoul. / Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] The head of Seon Daein Economic Research Institute was sentenced to a fine for insulting candidates running for the Yongin district under the then United Future Party in last year's 21st National Assembly election.

On the 18th, Judge Nam Shinhyang of the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 17 sentenced Director Seon, who was indicted on charges of insult, to a fine of 2 million won.

The court stated, "The expressions used by the defendant are contemptuous and, considering general usage, the degree of insult cannot be considered light," adding, "Even when looking at the context before and after the statements, it is closer to personal criticism rather than public criticism of the candidates."

It continued, "The defendant claims to have made 'political commentary' ahead of the election, but contemptuous expressions lacking respect for personality negatively affect healthy public opinion formation," and added, "The defendant had the intent to insult, and this cannot be seen as a justifiable act that does not violate social norms."

Earlier, Director Seon was brought to trial on charges of insulting candidates running for the Yongin district under the United Future Party by appearing on a YouTube broadcast accessible to an unspecified number of people ahead of the 21st National Assembly election in April last year.

When the host requested him to talk about the candidates running in the Yongin district, he used expressions such as "bakwibeolle" (cockroach), "ddorai" (crazy person), "makdwaemeok-eun geugujeongchin" (unruly far-right politician), and "gol ttaerineun nom" (a ridiculous guy).

Meanwhile, Director Seon ran as a preliminary candidate for the Yongin mayoral election under the Democratic Party of Korea in 2018 but was cut off without entering the candidate selection.