Appeals court spares ruling party lawmaker from loss of parliamentary seat

Rep. Lee Sang-sik of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea leaves the Suwon District Court in Gyeonggi Province, after the court fined him for making false statements ahead of the April 2024 general elections, Feb. 19. Yonhap

An appellate court on Thursday sentenced Rep. Lee Sang-sik of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea to a fine of 900,000 won ($659), sparing him the loss of his parliamentary seat.

The Suwon High Court fined Lee for making false statements ahead of the general elections in April last year in violation of the Public Official Election Act.

By law, members of the National Assembly are stripped of their seats if a fine of at least 1 million won is finalized for violating the election law.

A lower court had sentenced Lee to a fine of 3 million won.