Park Jongwoo, Geoje Mayor, Receives Suspended Sentence in Appeal for Election Law Violation

Park Jongwoo, mayor of Geoje City, Gyeongnam, is heading to the courtroom to attend the appellate trial sentencing hearing related to charges of violating the Public Official Election Act.
Photo by Lee Seryeong

Park Jongwoo, the mayor of Geoje City in Gyeongnam, who was charged with violating the Public Official Election Act, was sentenced to four months in prison with a two-year suspended sentence in his appeal trial.

The 2nd Criminal Division of the Changwon Branch of the Busan High Court held a sentencing hearing on the 23rd for Mayor Park, who was on trial for violating the election law.

Mayor Park was brought to trial on charges of providing 13 million won on three occasions to B, a staff member of National Assembly member Seo Iljun's office, and others through his publicity team member A, in exchange for recruiting party membership applications, providing party member lists, and promoting on social networking services (SNS) ahead of the 2022 nationwide local elections.

After being sentenced to six months in prison with a two-year suspended sentence in the first trial last November, he appealed, citing factual errors and misinterpretation of the law.

At the time of the first trial's sentencing hearing, the prosecution requested "appropriate judgment," leaving the sentencing to the court without suggesting a separate sentence, but in the appeal trial, they requested a guilty verdict.

Previously, the prosecutor stated during the trial, "Based on a comprehensive review of the evidence, the defendant has no grounds for appeal. Please dismiss the defendant's appeal and uphold the original sentence, which would result in the invalidation of his election."