Former Saha District Head Lee Gapjun Fined 5 Million Won for Requesting Support for Election Candidate

Supreme Court Upholds Lower Court Ruling

Metal fences have been installed in front of the Supreme Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the 9th, ahead of the Supreme Court's ruling on former President Yoon Seok-yeol's 'obstruction of arrest' case. July 9, 2026. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung

A fine has been finalized by the Supreme Court for Lee Gapjun, former head of Saha District in Busan, who was indicted for violating the Public Official Election Act, including requesting support for a preliminary candidate during the 22nd National Assembly election campaign.

The Supreme Court's First Division (Presiding Justice Seo Kyunghwan) on September 3 upheld the lower court's verdict, confirming a fine of 5 million won for former District Head Lee on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act.

Prior to the general election, on February 24, 2024, at the Dadaepo Daljip Cultural Festival venue and again on March 20 in the Saha District Office head’s room, Lee called Mr. A, the president of the regional youth association (an organization with government ties), and requested his support for a then-Preliminary Candidate from the People Power Party. During one of the calls, Lee made a direct introduction, saying, "Since you are from the same hometown, please take care of him," and connected Mr. A directly with Candidate B over the phone.

Prosecutors indicted Lee stating that, in addition to engaging in electioneering as a civil servant, he also leveraged his position as head of Saha District to engage in electioneering.

The court of first instance found all charges against Lee to be supported, sentencing him to eight months in prison, suspended for two years. However, the appellate court arrived at a different conclusion. The appeals court found Lee guilty of conducting electioneering as a civil servant, but did not find it reasonable to conclude he also abused his status as district head. As such, the court overturned the original sentence and imposed a fine of 5 million won.

The prosecution appealed, but the Supreme Court dismissed the appeal, stating, "The conviction regarding electioneering as a civil servant is affirmed, while the acquittal on the charge of abusing the office of Saha District head for electioneering is also affirmed." Under the Public Official Election Act, with confirmation of a fine exceeding 1 million won, Lee is thereby disqualified from running for office for five years.

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