Two Accused of Paying 180,000 Won for Campaign Meal for Mayoral Hopeful Referred to Prosecution... Yeongju Election Commission to Fine Attendees

The Yeongju City Election Commission filed a complaint on the 10th with the Andong Branch of the Daegu District Prosecutors' Office against Mr. A and his accomplice Mr. B on charges of holding a meal gathering to campaign for a prospective Yeongju mayoral candidate and providing food to attendees.

An official from the Election Commission stated, "In January, Mr. A, who is not allowed to engage in election campaigning, allegedly colluded with Mr. B, the head of an organization for persons with disabilities, to hold a meal gathering attended by the prospective candidate and many local organization leaders. Despite being a person who is prohibited from election campaigning, he made remarks related to the prospective candidate's campaign and then paid 180,000 won for the attendees' meals. A fine will also be imposed on those who attended the meal gathering and received the food."

Yeongju Election Commission

According to Article 115 (Restrictions on Donations by Third Parties) of the Public Official Election Act, no one may make donations for a candidate (including a person seeking to become a candidate) in connection with an election. A person who violates this provision may be punished under Article 257 (Crimes of Violating Prohibitions and Restrictions on Donations), Paragraph 1, by imprisonment for not more than five years or by a fine of not more than 10 million won. In addition, if a person who is not allowed to engage in election campaigning conducts or causes election campaigning, he or she may be punished under Article 255 (Crimes of Illegal Election Campaigning), Paragraph 1, by imprisonment for not more than three years or by a fine of not more than 6 million won.

Meanwhile, under Article 116 (Prohibition of Soliciting or Demanding Donations), no one may receive donations, or solicit or demand donations, from a person whose donation activities are restricted in connection with an election. A person who violates this provision may be subject, under Article 261 (Imposition and Collection of Administrative Fines), Paragraph 9, to an administrative fine in an amount between 10 and 50 times the amount of money, or the value of food, goods, etc., received (up to a maximum of 30 million won).