Uri Party Rep. Kang Seong-jong to Win Stay of Execution in First Instance

The Uijeongbu District Court (Senior prosecutor Kim Won-jong) on Tuesday levied a sentence of one of year prison time and a two-year suspended sentence on Uri Party Rep. Kang Seong-jong of Uijeongbu, who was indicted on charges of illegal election campaigning. If a sentence heavier than one million won penalty is confirmed against Rep. Kang, he will be deprived of his post and election eligibility for five years.

“Donating 10 million won to four organizations for the disabled can hardly be seen as behavior with innocent intentions irrelevant to the election,” said the court. “It also is not seen as behavior that follows good customs and manners because it involved sending gifts to regional influential people during the election run-up.”

Rep. Kang gave 11 million won worth of gifts with his name to 900 people, including his supporters, last September and this January, and he also hosted a benefit concert and donated 2.5 million won each to four organizations for the disabled. He was prosecuted for his behavior but was released on bail on July 14.

He is now planning to appeal.

Dong-Young Lee argus@donga.com