Court Suspends Sentence for Former Yeosu City Official Who Demanded Bribe

The court has suspended the disqualification sentence for a former Yeosu City official who demanded a bribe from a supplier for a government construction project.

On August 20, the Gwangju District Court Criminal Division 4 (Presiding Judge Bae Eunchang) announced that it had overturned the first trial's suspended sentence of four months in prison for Hwang (57), a former Yeosu City official charged with soliciting a bribe, and instead suspended a one-year disqualification sentence on appeal.

The court stated, "Although the crime of demanding a bribe is serious, the bribe was not actually received and the demand was made only once," adding, "Considering the sentencing factors, including the defendant's full admission of guilt, the original sentence is too severe."

Hwang was indicted on charges of demanding a bribe in August 2023 while serving as head of the Urban Landscape Team in Yeosu City, telling a representative of a government construction supplier, "Funds are needed for a superior's personnel matters. Since team members also need to contribute, please provide vacation expenses."

Previously, the first trial court pointed out, "Hwang actively called to demand a bribe," and stated, "It is difficult to accept him returning to work as a public official," before suspending a four-month prison sentence.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.