Lee Donghan, President of Daejeon Institute of Science and Technology for Enterprise and People, Fined 900,000 Won for Political Funds Act Violation

Financial Benefit Was Not Significant... Forfeiture of Approximately 91,940 Won Ordered

Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Lee Donghan, President of the Daejeon Institute of Science and Technology for Enterprise and People, who was indicted for violating the Political Funds Act in connection with the by-election for the head of Jung District in Daejeon held in April last year, has been sentenced to a fine.

On August 13, the 13th Criminal Division of the Daejeon District Court (Presiding Judge Jang Minkyoung) sentenced Lee to a fine of 900,000 won and ordered the forfeiture of approximately 91,940 won.

Lee, who ran as an independent candidate in the Jung District by-election, was indicted on charges of lending political funds to a campaign associate, identified as A, free of charge in a manner not stipulated by the Political Funds Act, thereby receiving financial benefits equivalent to interest as a donation.

The court stated, "The defendant undermined the legislative intent of the Political Funds Act, which is aimed at advancing democratic politics." However, the court also considered that "the financial benefit obtained was not significant, the funds were returned, and the defendant lacked sufficient familiarity with the relevant regulations due to limited political experience at the time."

A, who effectively served as the campaign manager, was indicted on charges of leading the provision of money and meals to campaign workers in a manner not permitted by the Political Funds Act, and was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for one year.

The other four campaign associates who were indicted together were each fined between 700,000 and 3.5 million won.

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