A not-guilty verdict was finalized for Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Song Ok-ju (Hwaseong-gap, Gyeonggi), who was accused of making illegal donations to senior citizen centers and other places in her district ahead of the 22nd general election held on Apr. 10, 2024.
The Supreme Court's third division (Presiding Justice Noh Kyung-pil) on the 24th upheld the lower court ruling that acquitted Song in the appeal of her Public Official Election Act violation case.
Prosecutors indicted Song on charges of making donations by holding events at 20 senior citizen centers in her district from Oct. 2023 to Mar. 2024, ahead of the general election, and providing residents in the constituency with goods such as TVs, drinks, and meals worth 25.63 million won. Song said she visited the senior centers "to listen to civil complaints" and argued she was not guilty.
In the first trial, in Sep. last year, the court sentenced Song to one year in prison, suspended for two years, a penalty that would nullify her election. If an elected public official receives a finalized sentence of imprisonment or a fine of 1 million won or more for violating the Public Official Election Act, the election is nullified.
The first trial bench said, "Song used her position and influence to ask corporations to make designated donations to Hwaseong City, enabling gifts and meals to be donated to senior citizen centers in the district through the Hwaseong City Council on Social Welfare," adding, "The organized and planned offense occurred because it was directed or approved by the defendant."
In the second trial in Feb. this year, the court acquitted Song. While acknowledging that "the lawmaker's office was to some extent involved in holding an event for Senior Citizens' Day and providing money and goods," the bench added, "It appears the corporations decided on the investment based on their internal standards."
It continued, "At the site, banners clearly indicated the corporations," and concluded, "It is hard to see that the donation recipients recognized Song Ok-ju as the donor."
Prosecutors appealed the ruling, but the Supreme Court also found no error in this assessment.
Five people, including aide A, who were indicted alongside Song, were also found not guilty. Three people, including secretary B and officials from a volunteer group, were found guilty on some donation charges and received finalized fines ranging from 900,000 won to 3 million won.