Sentence strips Moon of Assembly seat

The Supreme Court yesterday sentenced Rep. Moon Kook-hyun, chairman of the minor opposition Renewal of Korea Party, to a suspended term of eight months, depriving him of his seat in the National Assembly.

The election law states that a lawmaker is to lose representative status when handed down a criminal sentence equal to or exceeding 1 million won ($845) fine, which includes jail terms.



Moon was charged with issuing low-interest party bonds which allegedly provided his party with illicit financial profits and taking kickbacks from a proportional representative candidate during the general elections in April last year.

With the ruling, Moon became the 16th lawmaker to lose a seat in the 18th National Assembly, and his electoral district in Eungpyeong, Seoul, will be open for the by-election next July.

So far, five representatives from the ruling Grand National Party have lost their elected status, three from the main opposition Democratic Party and three from the minor Pro-Park Alliance.

Lee Han-jeong, who was charged with bribing Moon with 600 million won, was also deprived of his seat last year.

RKP lawmakers blamed the court`s decision as a political plot to crush minor parties

"Despite the regrettable court ruling, the party shall not give up on its political ideals," said RKP lawmaker You Won-il after the Supreme Court ruling.

(tellme@heraldm.com)



By Bae Hyun-jung