Convicted ruling party, independent lawmakers lose seats

SEOUL, July 23 (Yonhap) -- A ruling party lawmaker and an independent lawmaker
lost their seats in the National Assembly on Thursday after the Supreme Court
convicted them of violating election law.

The highest court found Rep. Hong Jang-pyo of the ruling Grand National Party
guilty of spreading false information about the wealth of a rival candidate
during the general election campaign in March 2008.
The court also found Choi Wook-cheul, an independent, guilty of providing free
and discounted accomodations, as well as other benefits worth some 8.3 million
won (US$6,600), to residents in his electoral district in Gangnung on the east
coast in 2007.
Hong and Choi were fined 5 million and 3 million won, respectively. 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 ruling party's seats in the assembly to 168, though
it still commands a comfortable majority in parliament. The number of
independents has fallen to eight due to Choi's disqualification.
odissy@yna.co.kr
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