Han Duck-soo Donated 1.5 Million Won to a Gwangju Restaurant and Prosecutors Seek a 1 Million Won Fine

[Financial News] Prosecutors have sought a fine for former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who was indicted on charges of making an illegal donation to a restaurant in Gwangju ahead of the 21st presidential election.
According to Yonhap News Agency, News 1 and other outlets on the 3rd, prosecutors asked the court to impose a fine of 1 million won at the closing hearing in Han's case for violating the Public Official Election Act. The hearing was held before the 22nd Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court, presided over by Presiding Judge Cho Hyung-woo.
Han is accused of donating 1.5 million won from his personal funds on April 15 last year to a restaurant in Gwangju that supports disadvantaged groups.
At the time, Han visited Gwangju while serving as acting president. Two weeks after donating to the restaurant, on May 2, he announced his candidacy for president.
The Rebuilding Korea Party (RKP) filed a complaint after Han announced his candidacy, alleging that he had "made an illegal donation prohibited by election law as a prospective candidate."
Article 113 of the Public Official Election Act prohibits candidates for the National Assembly, heads of local governments and others, as well as those seeking to become candidates and their spouses, from making donations to institutions, organizations and facilities located within the relevant electoral district during the election year.
Prosecutors determined that "after the date of the 21st presidential election had been set, Han announced his visit to the restaurant two weeks before he declared his candidacy and had photographs and footage of the visit reported." They added, "Taken as a whole, Han's conduct constitutes a donation in violation of the Public Official Election Act."
Prosecutors further pointed out, "Given that he began his first outreach to ordinary citizens in Gwangju and visited the May 18 Cemetery after announcing his candidacy, saying that he too was from the Honam region, he should be regarded as someone who was effectively a candidate." They added, "At the time, many people in the ruling camp believed that Han should be put forward as the presidential candidate."
In his final statement, Han argued, "I judged that my duty was to carry out the grave responsibilities of acting president and resolve the national crisis." He added, "I did not reveal my intention to run to anyone around me, nor did I make any preparations for an election."
He continued, "The delivery of the encouragement payment to the restaurant was planned and proposed by working-level staff, and I instructed them to cover it with my personal funds in accordance with their proposal." He nevertheless argued, "The prosecution's charges, which treat all of my past actions retroactively as election-related conduct simply because I decided to run about two weeks after the incident, do not accord with the facts." He appealed for leniency, saying, "I respectfully ask the court to examine the matter in light of the domestic political situation at the time and my duties as acting president."
Han's attorney also argued, "There is absolutely no evidence that the defendant's intention to run for president was expressed externally at the time of the incident." The attorney added, "It was official business aimed at addressing economic issues, and the restaurant visit was planned in accordance with the customary practice of inspecting sites where people's livelihoods are at stake."
The attorney emphasized, "The delivery of the encouragement payment in this case was also an extension of his usual charitable activities." The attorney continued, "It was not a special act undertaken with an election in mind, but rather an act based on the defendant's usual convictions and assigned duties."
The sentencing hearing for Han Duck-soo is scheduled for the 1st of next month.
[email protected] Kim Soo-yeon Reporter