Park Gang-su, Mayor of Mapo-gu, and Ryu Gyeong-gi, Mayor of Jungnang-gu, fined 900,000 and 700,000 won respectively in first trial for election law violation, likely to strengthen local development and resident service administration while retaining current positions
Seoul Mayors Park Gang-su of Mapo District and Ryu Kyung-gi of Jungnang District, who were indicted on charges of violating election laws during last year's June 1 local elections, received fines of less than 1 million won in the first trial, allowing them to continue their mayoral duties without issues.
Park Gang-su, Mayor of Mapo District, was fined 900,000 won at the trial held on the morning of the 22nd after being indicted for violating election laws by greeting Mapo District Office employees a week before the June 1 local elections, enabling him to maintain his position as mayor.
Additionally, Ryu Kyung-gi, Mayor of Jungnang District, who was tried for delivering fruit to residents ahead of the local elections, was sentenced to a fine of 700,000 won in the first trial held on February 10.
As a result, the incumbent Seoul district mayors of the 8th local government term face no issues in maintaining their positions.
In particular, first-term Mayor Park Gang-su of Mapo District and second-term Mayor Ryu Kyung-gi of Jungnang District, both known for their passionate efforts in regional development and administrative services for residents, have been freed from the burden of election law violation charges, providing a foundation to work even harder.
The Criminal Division 11 of the Seoul Western District Court (Presiding Judge Bae Seong-jung) sentenced Park Gang-su, Mayor of Mapo District, to a fine of 900,000 won on the morning of the 22nd at 10 a.m. on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act. The court stated, "The case is serious as it involved election campaigning prohibited by the Public Official Election Act, which is the foundation of democratic politics," and added, "The fact that illegal election campaigning was conducted close to the election date also worsens the nature of the offense." However, the court considered that Mayor Park did not wear campaign clothing or badges indicating candidacy and only exchanged greetings, and that the offense was unlikely to have had a significant impact on the election results.
Earlier, on February 10, Ryu Kyung-gi, Mayor of Jungnang District, who was tried for delivering fruit to residents ahead of the local elections, was sentenced to a fine of 700,000 won in the first trial. Judge Ko Chung-jung of the 11th Criminal Division of the Seoul Northern District Court sentenced Mayor Ryu to a fine of 700,000 won on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act.
The court explained, "Although the cost of purchasing the fruit was lawfully executed through proper procedures of the local government and Mayor Ryu claimed that the fruit was provided at a dinner gathering as a token of appreciation to attendees, this claim is unfounded," but added, "Considering that the offense did not significantly affect the election and that there is no prior record of similar crimes, the sentencing took these mitigating factors into account." Mayor Ryu is accused of delivering a box of fruit and soliciting support during a visit to his home in April at the request of a volunteer from the election campaign who is a resident.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
