Two lawmakers from South Korea’s ruling Democratic Party lost their parliamentary seats as the Supreme Court upheld lower court decisions regarding election law breaches. Representative Yi Byeong-jin faced a 7 million-won fine for underreporting assets during the April 2024 parliamentary elections, leading to his removal from office. Another ruling upheld a suspended prison term for Representative Shin Yeong-dae’s former campaign manager for distorting a party opinion poll before the 2024 elections.
By law, lawmakers lose their seats if found guilty of violating the Public Official Election Act and receiving a prison term or a fine exceeding 1 million won. Additionally, if their campaign managers are sentenced to a prison term or a fine of 3 million won or more, the election results are annulled. Yi, indicted in October 2024, faced charges of asset underreporting during his campaign, including stocks worth 70 million won and using land in Asan as loan collateral.
The Supreme Court also upheld a 5 million-won fine against Yi for breaching the Act on Real Name Financial Transactions and Confidentiality. Meanwhile, Shin’s former campaign manager, Kang, received a one-year suspended prison term and community service, resulting in Shin losing his parliamentary seat. Kang was indicted for providing money and phones to manipulate a party opinion poll, ultimately securing Shin’s nomination and election victory in 2024.
