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| ▲ Former Democratic Party lawmaker Youn Kwan-suk attends a court hearing in this Aug. 4, 2023, file photo over a cash-for-votes scandal involving the party's 2021 chairman election. (Yonhap) |
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2-yr prison term finalized for ex-DP lawmaker in cash-for-votes scandal
SEOUL, Oct. 31 (Yonhap) -- The Supreme Court finalized a two-year prison term for former opposition lawmaker Youn Kwan-suk on Thursday in connection with a cash-for-votes scandal surrounding the main opposition Democratic Party (DP)'s 2021 chairman election.
The scandal centers on allegations that the campaign of former DP leader Song Young-gil distributed cash envelopes totaling 66 million won (US$47,815) to 20 sitting DP lawmakers and other party members in the run-up to the party's leadership election in May 2021, which he ultimately won.
Youn, who worked for Song's campaign, was accused of receiving 20 cash envelopes from Song's former aide, each containing 3 million won, to be distributed to DP lawmakers shortly before the election.
Prosecutors accused him of intending to distribute funds to incumbent lawmakers in order to secure Song's election as party leader.
The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld a lower court's two-year jail term for Youn, convicting him of violations of the Political Parties Act.
The Seoul Central District Court is widely expected to issue its verdict for Song within this year, who is currently standing trial on violations of the Political Parties and Political Funds Acts for his alleged key role in the distribution of the cash envelopes.
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