Kim Tae-woo, former head of Gangseo-gu District Office, fined 800,000 won in the first trial for violating the Public Official Election Act.

Kim Tae-woo, the former head of Gangseo-gu District Office, who is accused of participating in an off-regulation rally when he ran for a by-election last year, was fined in the first trial.

The Seoul Southern District Court today (19th) sentenced former district chief Kim, who was indicted without detention on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act, to a fine of 800,000 won.

The court said it pleaded guilty to the charges, but explained that it considered the fact that former head of the district office Kim was defeated as a result and had no similar criminal record.

Kim was put on trial in October last year on charges of participating in a meeting of veterans' organizations involving more than 25 people during the official campaign for the Gangseo-gu District Office's by-election in Seoul.

The Public Official Election Act stipulates that rallies or gatherings with more than 25 participants cannot be held to influence the election.