Court Sentences Lawmaker Lee Sang-jik to Election Nullification in Second Trial for Election Law Violation

Independent lawmaker Sang-jik Lee (former member of the Democratic Party). Photo by Dong-joo Yoon doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin, Legal Affairs Specialist] Lee Sang-jik, an independent lawmaker (formerly of the Democratic Party) who is currently imprisoned after being sentenced to six years in prison for embezzlement and breach of trust related to Eastar Jet, has also been sentenced to a disqualification from office in the appeal trial for violating the Public Official Election Act.

The 1st Criminal Division of the Jeonju Branch of the Gwangju High Court (Chief Judge Kim Seong-ju) upheld the original sentence on the 26th, sentencing Lee to 1 year and 4 months in prison with a 2-year probation in the appeal trial for violating the Public Official Election Act. If this sentence, which results in disqualification from office (a fine of 1 million KRW or more), is confirmed by the Supreme Court, Lee will lose his parliamentary seat. Co-defendant Lee Mi-sook, former vice-chairperson of the Jeonju City Council, also had her original sentence of 4 months in prison with a 2-year probation upheld.

Jeonju City Council member Park Hyung-bae had his fine reduced from 2 million KRW to 900,000 KRW due to his minor involvement in the crime, while other election campaign staff received sentences ranging from fines of 1 million KRW to 1 year and 2 months in prison with 2 years probation, as in the first trial.

The court stated, "The defendants deny the charges of encouraging and inducing false responses from party members and general members during the recent party primary election, but all of these are proven guilty by evidence," adding, "We also considered that the defendants meticulously planned the crime, divided roles systematically, and that the crime appears to have influenced the vote share to some extent."

Additionally, the court pointed out, "Defendant Lee Sang-jik, as a representative of the people, failed in his responsibility to strive for a fair election more than anyone else."

Lee was indicted on charges of providing traditional liquor and booklets worth about 26 million KRW to 377 constituents on three occasions from January to September 2019 during his tenure as chairman of the Small and Medium Business Corporation.

He is also accused of conspiring with city council members and others to send mass text messages that appeared to encourage duplicate voting by general and party members during the recent party primary election.

Furthermore, Lee is charged with making false statements about the circumstances of his loss in the 20th general election party primary during an internet broadcast in January 2020, and with falsifying information in the "Candidate Information Disclosure Record of Criminal History" section of election campaign materials in March last year.

Earlier, on the 12th, the 11th Criminal Division of the Jeonju District Court (Chief Judge Kang Dong-won) sentenced Lee to six years in prison for embezzlement and breach of trust related to Eastar Jet (violation of the Specific Economic Crimes Act), revoked his bail, and ordered his detention in court.