A South Korean court fined Nonsan Mayor Baek Seong-hyun 1.5 million won [1] Wednesday for violating the Public Official Election Act.
The ruling is significant because a fine of this magnitude in a first-instance case can lead to the nullification of an elected official's victory.
The Daejeon District Court, Nonsan Branch, found that Baek provided holiday gifts accompanied by his business card to approximately 100 people [1]. These gifts were distributed between October 2023 and the Lunar New Year and Chuseok holiday seasons of 2024 and 2025 [1]. The total value of the gifts sent during this period was approximately 3.7 million won [1].
Under the Public Official Election Act, providing such gifts to voters is considered illegal electioneering. The court said that the duration and scale of the gift-giving were substantial [1].
Baek said the gifts were part of legitimate official duties and followed established customs [1]. However, the court rejected these arguments. The presiding judge, An Min-young, said the defendant showed a lack of remorse and offered explanations that were difficult to understand given the objective evidence [1].
Because the court found the nature of the crime to be severe, it imposed the fine of 1.5 million won [1]. This specific penalty is known as an "election-nullifying sentence" in the South Korean legal system, as it exceeds the threshold that triggers the loss of public office if upheld on appeal.
“A first-instance ruling that could void the mayor's election over holiday gifts sent to constituents.”
In South Korea, the Public Official Election Act strictly regulates the distribution of goods or money to constituents to prevent bribery and undue influence. When a court imposes a fine of 1 million won or more, it typically results in the immediate loss of the official's seat if the conviction is finalized. This case highlights the judiciary's low tolerance for traditional 'customary' gift-giving when it involves the use of official business cards to target voters.
