Election law violators face tougher penalties

South Korea's Supreme Court has decided to increase penalties for vote-buying, an official said Tuesday, in the latest attempt to crack down on illegal election campaigns.

The top court recommended that lower courts should, in principle, give prison terms to those found guilty of buying off voters, candidates or elected officials, or those engaged in vote-buying for the purpose of making money. The terms range from six months to five years, according to Supreme Court spokesman Yoon Sung-sik.

Even if a reduction in punishment is inevitable, the top court asked lower courts to impose at least a fine heavy enough to strip the offenders of public posts.

The Supreme Court has also asked the lower courts to either give up to a three-year prison sentence or a maximum of 10 million won (US$8,600) in fines to those who spread false information or conduct smear campaigns against candidates.

Under the election laws, an elected official is removed from office if he or she is fined more than 1 million won ($860), according to Baek Seung-hun, an official of the National Election Commission, the country's election watchdog.

He said there were no cases of vote-buying in the April 11 parliamentary elections.

The Supreme Court said those who violate election laws that either ban or limit campaign contributions could face up to two years in prison or a maximum of 5 million won ($4,300) in fines

The draft also recommended that the lower courts hand out up to two-year prison sentences to those found guilty of vote-buying in internal elections of political parties.

The move came a month after the left-wing minor opposition Unified Progressive Party announced that its primary meant to select its proportional representation candidates for the April elections had been rigged.

The Supreme Court has decided to increase penalties for those who are engaged in illegal campaigning through the Internet and social network services.

Baek said the election commission has brought accusations against four elected lawmakers to the prosecutors for spreading false information during the April elections.

Separately, the Supreme Court also asked the lower courts to give prison terms up to 11 or 15 years to those who make illicit financial gains of more than 5 billion won ($4.3 million) or 30 billion won ($26 million), respectively.

The Supreme Court said it will hold a public hearing in July before approving the news standards on Aug. 20. (Yonhap News)