Man in His 60s Receives Suspended Sentence for Obstructing Special Committee’s On-Site Inspection at Ballot Counting Center

Obstruction of Official Duties
Multiple Prior Violent Offenses

A man in his 60s has received a suspended sentence for obstructing an on-site inspection by the National Assembly’s Special Committee on Government Inspection at the ballot counting center in Seoul Olympic Park.

Members of the National Assembly's Special Committee for State Audits were moving inside the vote counting center in Olympic Park, Songpa-gu, Seoul on July 2nd when a protest participant ran toward them. Photo by the National Assembly Photo Journalists Group

On September 9, Senior Judge Jung Jeongho of the Seoul Eastern District Court’s 8th Criminal Division sentenced the man, surnamed Lim, who was indicted and detained on charges of interfering with official duties, to 10 months in prison with a two-year suspension.

Judge Jung explained the sentencing decision by stating, "Considering the circumstances of the crime and the defendant’s attitude during the investigation following the offense, the nature of the crime is severe, and there are multiple prior convictions for violent offenses until 2011." However, the judge also noted, "I took into account that he has admitted his wrongdoing and made financial restitution to the victimized police officer."

Lim was brought to trial on charges of pushing and assaulting a police officer to obstruct the on-site inspection by the special committee members, who were visiting Olympic Park in Songpa-gu, Seoul, on July 2 for the investigation.

At the time, Lim was moved by police near the entrance to the Handball Gymnasium where the ballot counting center was located and was subsequently arrested.

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