Yangju, Guri mayors may lose seats

By Lee Kyung-min

Hyun sam-sik

Park Young-soon

The mayors of Yangju and Guri, both in Gyeonggi Province, received fines of 1.5 million won ($1,300) and 3 million won, respectively, from the Seoul High Court for violating election rules during their campaigns last year.

If the rulings are upheld by the Supreme Court, both will be removed from their posts. Under Election Law, elected public officials who are fined 1 million won or more are relieved of their position.

Yangju Mayor Hyun sam-sik was indicted for printing and disseminating some 79,000 campaign leaflets containing false information about the city’s finances in the lead-up to the June election.

In January, a district court found him guilty, ordering a fine of 2 million won.

Guri Mayor Park Young-soon was indicted last year on similar charges.

Park put up posters and banners near his campaign office saying he obtained government approval for a design center construction plan.

Unlike his claim, Park had not obtained that approval. In December, Park was found guilty by a district court of breaking election law and was ordered to pay an 800,000 won fine.