Strict outcome · Comparison Pair · Election-law violation
Outsider candidate fined ₩2M, loses seat for minor leaflet error
Harm
12-hour-late leaflet, no monetary harm
Sentence
₩200만 fine
Court
District Court
Guideline
—
Comparison thesis
Outsider candidate: ₩2M fine = seat lost. Incumbent: ₩900K fine = seat preserved.
Strict outcome · current case
₩200만 fine
₩2M fine → automatic loss of seat
Outsider candidate fined ₩2M, loses seat for minor leaflet error
Ordinary citizen · Harm: 12-hour-late leaflet, no monetary harm
Lenient outcome
₩90만 fine
₩900,000 fine — seat preserved
Incumbent lawmaker: suspended sentence below ₩1M, keeps seat
Politician · Harm: ~₩30M unreported campaign expenses
The ₩1M threshold to lose a seat creates an incentive — and recurring pattern — for courts to assess fines just below it for incumbents while routinely exceeding it for newcomers.
Case summary
A first-time independent candidate distributed a leaflet 12 hours outside the campaign window during a local election. Under the Public Official Election Act's 100,000-won-fine threshold for losing a seat, the court imposed a ₩2,000,000 fine — automatically nullifying his electoral victory.
Disparity flags
Sources
Bring this to your school or class
Use this case in a debate prep, mock trial, or sentencing-policy discussion.
Open the explainer