Prosecutors Appeal Probation Ruling for Heo Kyung-young, Who Claimed "I Am Chairman Lee Byung-chul's Adopted Son"

During the 20th presidential election period, the court sentenced Heo Kyung-young, honorary representative of the National Revolutionary Party, who claimed to be the adopted son of the late Lee Byung-chul, chairman of Samsung Group, to a suspended sentence, and the prosecution has appealed.

Honorary Representative Heo Kyung-young of the National Revolutionary Party held a presidential election candidacy declaration ceremony and performed in front of the Daechupmun Gate at Haengju Fortress in Goyang-si, Gyeonggi Province on August 18, 2021. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

The Uijeongbu District Prosecutors' Office announced on the 1st that it appealed the first trial's sentence of 2 years in prison with a 3-year suspension for Heo, who is accused of violating the Public Official Election Act, based on the judgment that "a heavier sentence is necessary."

Heo was indicted on charges of spreading false information, including statements such as "I am the adopted son of the late Lee Byung-chul, chairman of Samsung Group" and "I played an unofficial role as a policy advisor to former President Park Chung-hee" during the 20th presidential election period.

Earlier, the 13th Criminal Division of the Uijeongbu District Court (Chief Judge Park Joo-young) sentenced Heo to 2 years in prison with a 3-year suspension on the 25th of last month for violating the Public Official Election Act.