By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter

A Seoul court fined Rep. Chung Mong-joon of the ruling Grand National Party (GNP) 800,000 won ($570), Tuesday, on charges of spreading false information during his campaign for a National Assembly seat in March last year.

The fine is lower than the legal minimum of one million won required to deprive a sitting National Assembly member of his seat.

Judge Kim Yong-sang said in the ruling, ``Chung's comment on the redevelopment were partially exaggerated but not groundless.''

The main opposition Democratic Party filed the suit against the six-term lawmaker following the election, claiming Chung told voters that Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon had agreed to having his district included in the city's redevelopment project.

The suit was based on Seoul Mayor Oh's official denial of the agreement with Chung. But the prosecution dropped the suit last September, saying the 58-year-old could have ``misunderstood'' the mayor. However, the main opposition party filed a complaint against him and the Seoul court accepted it, making the prosecution indict Chung.

Chung is a supreme council member of the GNP and a son of the late business tycoon Chung Ju-young, the founder of Hyundai Group.

pss@koreatimes.co.kr