Ruling party lawmaker loses seat for violating election law

SEOUL, March 12 (Yonhap) -- A ruling party lawmaker lost his seat in the National
Assembly on Thursday as the Supreme Court convicted him of violating election
laws prior to last year's general election.
The highest court found Rep. Yoon Doo-hwan, a member of the Grand National Party
(GNP), guilty of distributing a misleading press release prior to the 17th
general election in April 2008 and fined him 1.5 million won (US$1,010).
Under the current election law, a jail term or a fine of over 1 million won, if
confirmed by the Supreme Court, results in the nullification of parliamentary
seats.
The latest ruling reduced the GNP's seats in the Assembly to 170.
Kim was found to have released the press release in February 2008 in which he
falsely claimed having been promised by the transportation ministry that the
government would abolish a highway toll in his hometown.
"Yoon spread false information on the revision of the toll road system in his
electoral district in Ulsan by distorting the purport of the government's
transportation policy," the court said.
odissy@yna.co.kr
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