Mayor Heo Seok of Suncheon denies charges in appeal trial over 'misappropriation of newspaper development funds'

"Did Not Substantially Participate in Newspaper Operations"

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Jin-hyung] Former Suncheon Mayor Heo Seok, who was sentenced to loss of position for charges of national subsidy fraud, fully denied the allegations at the first appeal trial.

The Gwangju District Court Criminal Division 3 (Presiding Judge Kim Tae-ho) held the first appeal hearing on the 19th for Heo and two others, who were indicted for misusing the newspaper development fund for purposes other than intended (fraud).

Heo was charged with embezzling 160 million KRW from the local newspaper development fund, which was paid under the pretext of personnel expenses for freelance experts and intern reporters, while he was the representative of the Suncheon Citizens' Newspaper.

He was sentenced to six months in prison with a two-year probation in the first trial.

At the trial, Heo’s defense attorney stated, "Since 2004, he has not been practically involved in the newspaper’s operations and only held the position of CEO in name," and denied direct involvement in the charges.

However, he added, "He maintained the CEO position at the time (unrelated to the charges) and was partially involved in operations," and "plans to actively work toward damage recovery before the next trial date."

The defense requested two witnesses, including a newspaper operations committee member and the spouse of executive Jeong Mo, and the court accepted the request.

The defense attorneys for newspaper executive Jeong Mo and employee Park Mo, who were also indicted on the same charges, pleaded for leniency, expressing their intention to actively work on damage recovery.

The next trial is scheduled for November 23 at 4 p.m., during which witness examination will take place.