Jeon Kwang-hoon, a pastor of Sarang Jeil Church, who was indicted on charges of supporting a specific candidate during a service while being deprived of voting rights, has received a fine of 2 million won from the Supreme Court. Both the first and second trials had previously sentenced Pastor Jeon to a fine of 2 million won.
According to the legal community on the 4th, the Supreme Court's second division (Chief Justice Eom Sang-pil) confirmed the original judgment, which imposed a fine of 2 million won on Pastor Jeon for violating the Public Official Elections Act.
The court stated, "There is no mistake in misunderstanding the legal principle regarding the establishment of the crime of violating the Public Official Elections Act" and dismissed Pastor Jeon's appeal.
Pastor Jeon is accused of saying during a Sunday service at Sarang Jeil Church on Nov. 7, 2021, just four months before the presidential election, "The presidential election is bound to be Kim Kyung-jae."
In August 2018, Pastor Jeon received a 6-month prison sentence with a 2-year probation for violating the Public Official Elections Act, resulting in his voting rights being revoked for ten years. Ultimately, he was indicted on charges of supporting a specific presidential candidate during church services while being deprived of voting rights.
Pastor Jeon denied the charges, claiming that his remarks were merely a simple expression of opinion or ceremonial good wishes.
However, both the first and second trial courts imposed a fine of 2 million won on Pastor Jeon. The court stated, "Pastor Jeon recorded and broadcast a sermon intending to elect a specific candidate to a large number of congregants just four months before the presidential election," noting, "This can be seen as an active and proactive act, acknowledging the charges of violating the election law."