Prosecution Seeks 800,000 Won Fine for Choi Jae-hyung over 'Microphone Use Election Law Violation'

Choi Jae-hyung, Chairman of the Innovation Committee of the People Power Party, is attending the full meeting of the Innovation Committee held at the National Assembly on September 5. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] The prosecution has requested a fine for Choi Jaehyung, a member of the People Power Party, who was indicted on charges of conducting microphone election campaigning during the 20th presidential election while competing against President Yoon Seok-yeol in the preliminary candidate race, despite it not being the official campaign period.

On the 26th, at the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 27 (Presiding Judge Kim Ok-gon), during the trial for Choi’s violation of the Public Official Election Act, the prosecutor asked the court to impose a fine of 800,000 won.

Choi’s defense attorney acknowledged the charges but stated, "When he arrived at the scene, supporters had gathered, and he spontaneously spoke after borrowing a microphone from someone," adding, "The campaign was not prepared at the camp level." He also said, "It had almost no impact on the election."

When the court said, "(As a judge) you have presided over trials for a long time, so you probably knew that using a loudspeaker was prohibited," Choi replied, "To be honest, I was not aware of that."

Choi’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for the 16th of next month. If a fine of 1 million won or more is imposed, he will lose his parliamentary seat, but since the prosecution’s requested amount is less than that, it is highly likely that Choi will retain his position.

After retiring as the head of the Board of Audit and Inspection last year, Choi ran as a preliminary candidate for the People Power Party’s presidential nomination. In August of the same year, at the entrance of Seomun Market in Jung-gu, Daegu, he took a microphone handed by an aide and said, "Everyone, you are having a hard time, right? You have suffered under this administration," and "I, Choi Jaehyung, will achieve a regime change. Please trust me."

At that time, the official campaign period had not yet started. However, Article 59, Clause 4 of the Public Official Election Act, which regulates election campaigning allowed before the campaign period, permits campaigning by phone or verbally when it is not election day, but prohibits the use of loudspeakers or outdoor rallies targeting multiple people.

Additionally, Article 91, Paragraph 1 of the Public Official Election Act (Restrictions on the Use of Loudspeakers and Vehicles) states, "No one may use loudspeakers for election campaigning except when used for speeches, debates, or discussions in public places as stipulated by this law," thereby banning the use of loudspeakers for purposes other than speeches, debates, or discussions under the Act.

The civic group Judicial Justice Restoration Citizen Action stated, "Despite being an expert who served as a judge for 30 years, handling numerous election cases, and having experience as the chairman of the Daejeon Election Commission, he violated the law," and filed a complaint against Choi for violating the Public Official Election Act.