Request Filed with the Supreme Court on the 10th
Cheonan Mayor Park Sangdon, who is currently undergoing a re-appeal for alleged violations of the Public Official Election Act, filed a request for a constitutional review with the Supreme Court on the 10th.
The case has been taken on by Songwoo Law Firm, and if the court accepts the request, the trial may be suspended until the Constitutional Court reaches a decision.
In a phone call that day, Mayor Park explained, "During the appeal process, my lawyer said there was a need to file such a request, so it is underway," adding, "As far as I know, it concerns the fact that some provisions of the Public Official Election Act are applied differently to members of the National Assembly and heads of local governments, even though both are elected positions."
He added, "I cannot predict the outcome, and as the defendant, it is not appropriate for me to make various comments," showing a cautious attitude.
It is not yet clear which specific provisions are alleged to be unconstitutional.
A representative from the law firm stated, "The lawyer is unavailable, so we cannot respond."
Mayor Park was indicted on charges of using his official position for electioneering during the 8th nationwide local elections in 2022, and for omitting the population standard while listing the city’s unemployment and employment rates in campaign materials (alleged false information).
The court of first instance found Mayor Park not guilty, but the appellate court determined that he had been grossly negligent in his duty to verify facts and sentenced him to one year and six months in prison, suspended for two years.
The Supreme Court overturned the appellate decision and returned the case to the Daejeon High Court, taking into account that Mayor Park was not aware of the omission of the population standard, among other factors, and ruled partially in favor of acquittal.
In the retrial, the court considered the Supreme Court’s decision to acquit him of the false information charge and reduced the sentence to six months in prison, suspended for two years.
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