A nullification-of-election sentence was sought for lawmaker An Do-geol of the Democratic Party of Korea, who was put on trial on charges of operating an "illegal phone promotion room" ahead of the parliamentary election.
On the 15th, at a trial for An on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act and the Political Funds Act, held under the Criminal Division 12 of the Gwangju District Court (Presiding Judge Park Jae-seong), prosecutors asked the court to sentence An to 1 year and 6 months in prison, a fine of 3 million won, and a forfeiture of 43.02 million won. If a lawmaker receives a finalized sentence of a fine of 1 million won or more for violating the Public Official Election Act or the Political Funds Act, the election is nullified.
For A, who was indicted together on charges related to operating the illegal phone promotion room, prosecutors sought 2 years in prison, and for the remaining 10 defendants, 1 year in prison or fines ranging from 3 million to 7 million won.
An is accused of setting up an illegal phone promotion room at an unspecified location in Hwasun County, South Jeolla, during the Democratic Party primary process for the "4·10 general election," and sending 51,346 text messages soliciting support from Dec. 2023 to Feb. last year. An is also accused of paying 25.54 million won to 10 staff members responsible for sending the messages and receiving 43.02 million won in corporate funds operated by A.
An's side said, "There was no involvement in any act, including sending text messages, hiring staff, or providing money or valuables," and argued, "The indictment is based only on speculation drawn from Kakao group chat rooms and other sources." The sentencing hearing for An is scheduled for the 30th of next month.