[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 the local elections scheduled for June 3, Baek Seonghyeon, Mayor of Nonsan in South Chungcheong Province, is set to 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 act).

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

The National Election Commission determined this to be an “act of 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.”

With the upcoming local elections in June, Mayor Baek now faces a political burden as he stands trial. Depending on the outcome of the trial, there could be significant impacts on his future political schedule.