County Governor of Uiryeong Accused of Forcible Molestation of Female Reporter Sentenced to 10 Million Won Fine in Appeal Trial

O Tae-wan, the governor of Uiryeong-gun, Gyeongnam, is heading to the courtroom building of Changwon District Court for the appellate trial verdict.
[Photo by Lee Se-ryeong]

Oh Tae-wan, the mayor of Uiryeong County, Gyeongnam, who was tried on charges of sexual assault, was sentenced to a fine in the appellate court.

The Criminal Division 3-1 of Changwon District Court, Gyeongnam (Chief Judge Oh Taek-won) sentenced Mayor Oh to a fine of 10 million won on the 17th and ordered him to complete 40 hours of a sexual violence treatment program.

Earlier, Mayor Oh was indicted on charges of sexual assault for grabbing the hand of a female reporter while having dinner with reporters who had access to the county office at a restaurant in Uiryeong County in June 2021.

In the first trial, he was sentenced to six months in prison with a two-year probation, which resulted in the loss of his mayoral position.

Elected public officials lose their positions if they receive a fine of 1 million won or more for violating the Public Official Election Act, or if they receive a prison sentence or higher in a criminal case and the sentence is finalized.

After the sentencing, Mayor Oh expressed to the press his intention to appeal to the Supreme Court.