Daejeon Mayor Kwon Sun-taik faces the possibility of losing his post after receiving a suspended prison term on Monday for conducting illegal campaign activities.
The Daejeon District Court handed down Kwon a jail term of eight months with a probation of two years.
Kwon, 60, was indicted for creating a forum in October 2012 through which he was suspected of engaging in illegal campaigning, as well as collecting illicit political funds through “special memberships.”
Kwon Sun-taik
If higher courts confirm the initial prison term in the coming months or years, his election would be nullified. He is expected to lodge a litigation to an appellate court in the coming days.
Kwon, from the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy, won the June 4 local elections in a neck-and-neck race.
Daejeon City officials cast worries that local development projects would suffer setbacks amid the ongoing court trial procedures.
By Kim Yon-se (kys@heraldcorp.com)