[Exclusive] Prosecutors Indict Nonsan Mayor Baek Seonghyeon for Election Law Violation

Holiday Gifts Sent with Business Card
Alleged Act of Donation under Election Law

With just five months remaining until next year's local elections, Baek Seonghyeon, Mayor of Nonsan in South Chungcheong Province, will stand trial on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act.

The prosecution determined that sending holiday gifts to voters with the mayor's business card enclosed constituted an "act of donation."

On January 12, the Nonsan Branch of the Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office announced that Mayor Baek had been indicted without detention on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act (donation).

According to coverage by The Asia Business Daily, Mayor Baek and others are accused of sending gift sets worth approximately 2.7 million won to about 80 constituents in the district by mail, along with his business card, during the Lunar New Year and Chuseok holidays from 2023 to 2024.

The National Election Commission viewed this as a "donation" prohibited by the Public Official Election Act and reported Mayor Baek to the prosecution in November last year.

A prosecution official stated, "Mayor Baek has been indicted without detention on charges including violation of the Public Official Election Act."

As Mayor Baek faces trial ahead of the local elections in June, he now faces significant political pressure. Depending on the outcome of the trial, his future political schedule is also expected to be heavily impacted.