Violation of Quarantine During COVID-19... Former Assemblyman Min Kyung-wook Found Guilty

[Financial News] Former Future United Party (now People Power Party) Assemblyman Min Kyung-wook, who was prosecuted for violating quarantine measures during the COVID-19 outbreak, has been found guilty.
The Supreme Court's 3rd Division (Chief Justice No Kyung-pil) confirmed the original sentence of a 700,000 won fine and 1-year probation for Min, who was charged with violating the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act.
Min was prosecuted for leaving his residence before the end of the mandatory two-week quarantine after returning from the United States in March 2021. He reportedly visited the Seoul Southern District Court to attend a trial related to the National Assembly's fast-track collision case.
Earlier, in August 2020, he was also accused of leaving his residence twice during the quarantine period after being notified of quarantine when visiting Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, where a COVID-19 case had occurred.
The first trial found Min guilty of attending court during the quarantine period after returning from the United States and sentenced him to a 700,000 won fine and 1-year probation.
However, he was acquitted of violating quarantine measures after visiting the church.
The first trial court stated, "For quarantine measures to be legal, it is insufficient for the defendant to have merely visited or entered a place where an infectious disease case occurred," adding, "No evidence was presented to suggest the defendant had contact with or was suspected of having contact with an infectious disease patient."
During the appeal, Min argued, "I traveled alone using a private car and isolated myself in the vehicle until noon when the quarantine was lifted," and claimed, "Even if I violated quarantine measures, it was to attend the trial, which constitutes a legitimate act," but this was not accepted.
The second trial court noted, "Even if the defendant traveled alone using a private car, leaving the residence constitutes a violation of quarantine measures," and pointed out, "It is determined that the defendant had intent to violate the Infectious Disease Prevention Act."
Min appealed, but the Supreme Court confirmed the guilty verdict, stating, "There is no error in the original judgment regarding the logic and establishment of the crime of violating the Infectious Disease Prevention Act, nor in the legal principles regarding legitimate acts."

jisseo@fnnews.com Seo Min-ji Reporter