Democratic Party Gwangju Official Ordered Reporter to Spread False 'Tax Evasion' Article... Receives Summary Order

Drafted Article Himself and Delivered It
Claimed "Public Interest" as Motive During Investigation
Prosecution Issues Summary Order for Fine

A portion of an online article containing false and fraudulent tax evasion allegations submitted by the victim to the police as evidence. Provided by the victim's side.

A senior official affiliated with the Gwangju City branch of the Democratic Party of Korea has received a summary order from the prosecution for allegedly instructing an internet news reporter to write and disseminate a false and fraudulent article accusing a junior entrepreneur of tax evasion. <Reported by The Asia Business Daily on November 14, 2025>

According to informants on January 9, the Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office issued a 'summary order for a fine' on January 6 against Mr. A, a man in his 50s who serves as a part-time executive at the Gwangju City branch of the Democratic Party of Korea.

A summary order is a procedure in which a sentence is imposed through a written review without a formal trial, when criminal charges are acknowledged.

Previously, in July last year, the police referred Mr. A to the prosecution on charges including defamation by publication.

Mr. A is accused of personally drafting an article in May last year alleging that the victim committed tax evasion during company operations, delivering it to an internet news reporter he knew, and instructing them to publish the report. He is also accused of posting the article without permission in a social media group where many of the victim’s acquaintances were gathered.

During the investigation, Mr. A reportedly stated that his motive was for the public good.

Meanwhile, separate from the police investigation, the victim filed a complaint with the Press Arbitration Commission against the reporter and the media outlet, claiming defamation due to the false report. On July 2 last year, the Press Arbitration Commission determined that "the article was entirely untrue" and ordered the media outlet and the reporter to issue a correction.