Former National Assembly member Hwang Bo-seung-hee (48), who was sentenced to a suspended sentence in the first trial for receiving illegal political funds of 50 million won and credit cards from her lover ahead of the 2020 general election (violations of the Political Funds Act and the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act), has filed an appeal.
On the 21st, former lawmaker Hwang submitted a notice of appeal to the Busan District Court first trial division, citing factual errors, legal misinterpretations, and unfair sentencing as reasons. In the appeal trial, she is expected to argue that she only received living expenses from her lover Jeong Mo (59) in a special private relationship equivalent to a de facto marriage, and that she did not receive political funds.
In her final statement at the first trial, the former lawmaker said, "I started an inappropriate relationship with Mr. Jeong and met for about six years while he had a family," adding, "There are various forms of marriage, but under current law, even a ring received as a token of love could be considered a violation of the Kim Young-ran Act (Improper Solicitation and Graft Act)." The background of claiming a de facto marriage seems to be based on the current Political Funds Act and Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, which do not punish the receipt of political funds or excessive gifts between legally married spouses.
Former lawmaker Hwang is expected to focus on proving the de facto marriage relationship in the second trial. If a fine is confirmed for violating the Political Funds Act, the right to run for office will be revoked for five years; if a prison sentence is confirmed, it will be revoked for ten years.
Earlier, the first trial court judged that they did not reach a de facto marriage relationship. The court cited reasons such as both parties having legal spouses at the time of exchanging money and maintaining their marital relationships. Most of the 50 million won given during the 2020 preliminary candidate period was used for political activities such as primary election expenses and campaign costs, highlighting that it was difficult to consider it as living expenses.
After facing trial last year for private life controversies and violations of the Political Funds Act, he left the People Power Party and ran as the number one proportional representative candidate for the Liberty Unification Party in the April 10 general election but failed to re-enter the National Assembly.
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