Pastor Choi Jae-young Faces Prison Term Request for Illegal Electioneering
Pastor Choi Jae-young Faces Prison Term Request for Illegal Electioneering
Pastor Choi Jae-young, already facing charges, now has prosecutors seeking a prison term for alleged illegal electioneering. During the final hearing at the Yeoju Branch of the Suwon District Court, prosecutors requested prison sentences for Choi Jae-young on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act and defamation under the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, etc. Choi Jae-young is known for gifting a luxury bag to First Lady Kim Keon-hee, and this case stems from legal issues related to his political activities. The controversy is heightened by the fact that, despite being a U.S. citizen, Choi is accused of interfering in South Korean elections. Prosecutors believe Choi's actions undermined fair election order and were an illegal attempt to sway support for a specific candidate. They are also seeking severe punishment for disseminating false information and defaming others using the information and communications network. This case is viewed as more than a simple violation of election law, highlighting the serious nature of a foreign national's alleged attempt to improperly interfere in South Korean politics.
Prosecutors requested a sentence of one year and two months in prison for Choi Jae-young for violating the Public Official Election Act and one year in prison for defamation under the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, etc. Choi Jae-young is accused of campaigning for Choi Moo, the Democratic Party candidate, in the Yeoju-Yangpyeong region ahead of the 22nd general election. Prosecutors allege that Choi attempted to unduly influence the election by supporting a specific party's candidate. Specifically, Choi is accused of defaming Representative Lee Chul-gyu by mentioning the First Lady Kim during a public lecture in Yeoju in March 2025, with prosecutors judging that his remarks went beyond simple expression of opinion and seriously damaged another's reputation. Prosecutors believe these actions violate the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, etc., and are seeking a prison sentence to hold him accountable. Choi Jae-young's actions are considered a serious crime that obstructs fair elections and harms political rivals. Prosecutors emphasized the need for strict punishment to eradicate such behavior.
Choi Jae-young is also accused of handing a luxury bag to First Lady Kim Keon-hee in September 2022 and filming the scene. This incident sparked controversy, raising questions about Choi's inappropriate use of his relationship with the First Lady. At the time, suspicions arose that Choi provided an expensive gift to Kim and secretly filmed it with the intention of using it for political purposes. Prosecutors believe this incident is related to Choi's other charges, judging that his actions overall were driven by improper political motives. In particular, filming the luxury bag exchange could constitute an invasion of privacy and illegal filming, which are legally serious issues. Prosecutors have requested a prison sentence for Choi, holding him legally responsible for these actions. Choi Jae-young's actions have caused a significant social backlash, and his morality and ethics have been widely criticized.
Meanwhile, prosecutors requested a one-year prison sentence for a Yangpyeong County council member who was also indicted on charges of violating election law. They also requested a fine of 3 million won for the Democratic Party's Yeoju-Yangpyeong regional committee chairman. These individuals are accused of being involved in the election campaign alongside Choi Jae-young, and prosecutors believe that their actions undermined fair election order. The Yangpyeong County council member is accused of using influence in the local community to sway support for a specific candidate. The Democratic Party's Yeoju-Yangpyeong regional committee chairman is suspected of being involved in illegal fundraising or mobilizing organizations during the election campaign. Prosecutors believe that their actions violate election law and have requested prison sentences and fines, respectively, to hold them accountable. Furthermore, prosecutors requested a fine of 7 million won each for four civic group officials involved in organizing the public lecture. They are accused of organizing Choi Jae-young's lecture and attempting to sway support for a specific candidate through it. Prosecutors believe their actions were an attempt to unfairly influence the election and have requested fines to hold them accountable.
The sentencing hearing for Choi Jae-young is scheduled for December 18. The court will comprehensively review the prosecution's request and Choi Jae-young's defense to deliver the final verdict. This trial will be an important opportunity to make a legal judgment not only on Choi Jae-young's illegal electioneering charges, but also on his political activities as a whole. Depending on the court's ruling, Choi Jae-young could be sentenced to prison, which would significantly restrict his social activities. Furthermore, this case is expected to raise awareness about the issue of foreign nationals interfering in South Korean politics. The court is expected to conduct a fair trial to clearly reveal Choi Jae-young's charges and deliver a strict ruling in accordance with the law and principles. This sentencing hearing is expected to attract the attention of the political and legal communities, as well as the general public.
