[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The Supreme Court has confirmed the acquittal of Bae Jun-young, a member of the People Power Party (Incheon Jung-gu, Ganghwa, Ongjin), who was prosecuted for alleged pre-election campaigning ahead of the 21st general election.
The Supreme Court's 2nd Division (Presiding Justice Cheon Dae-yeop) on the 27th upheld the lower court's ruling that acquitted Bae on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act.
Bae was indicted without detention on charges of appealing for support at events such as the Ongjin County Residents' Day in May and August 2019 and the Ganghwa County Sports Association event, which were considered pre-election campaigning ahead of the general election. He was also accused of paying salaries to two employees of the Incheon Economic Research Institute, where he served as chairman, and having them perform various election-related tasks such as preparing for a book launch event, organizing local issues, and obtaining contact information for reporters covering the National Assembly.
The first trial court ruled that "the salaries paid by Bae to the former employees of the Incheon Economic Research Institute (who were also indicted) were compensation for ordinary work consistent with the institute's founding purpose and cannot be seen as payments related to election campaigning," and acquitted him. The court also dismissed charges related to Bae's alleged pre-election campaigning and illegal internal party primary activities involving the collection of 21 membership applications, stating that these could not be punished under the revised election law enacted last year.
The appellate court judged that the loss of criminal effect due to the Constitutional Court's ruling of unconstitutionality constitutes grounds for acquittal rather than dismissal, and acquitted Bae of all charges. It also differed from the first trial by finding it difficult to recognize the recruitment of responsible party members as internal party primary campaigning and similarly acquitted him.
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