Eccentric presidential candidate gets jail term for spreading rumors

SEOUL, Dec. 24 (Yonhap) -- The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld an appellate
court ruling that convicted a maverick former presidential hopeful of circulating
rumors that he had a close relationship with a late president's daughter.
Huh Kyung-young, 59, was indicted early this year for violating election laws
during the presidential election in December last year. The Seoul District Court
and the Appellate Court sentenced him to 18 months in prison, and the punishment
became final as the Supreme Court confirmed the decision.
The eccentric leader of the minor Economic Republican Party claimed that late
President Park Chung-hee -- whom he falsely claimed to have served as a secretary
-- had promised Huh the hand of his daughter in marriage.
The late president's daughter, Park Geun-hye, 57, a former chairwoman of the
ruling Grand National Party who also ran unsuccessfully for GNP's presidential
nomination in 2007, was infuriated by his claims.
Huh, who boasted of having an IQ of 430, also claimed to have attended U.S.
President George W. Bush's inaugural party in 2001 as a South Korean
representative, showing a picture taken with Bush.
The court said that the photo was manipulated and most of his claims are groundless.
"The defendant violated the election law and caused many troubles by
disseminating false information during the election race. He still does not even
acknowledge his wrongdoings in the court," the high court said in its ruling.
Huh was a sensational hit among young Internet users during the presidential
election as he promised to give 100 million won to every newlywed couple and 30
million won to child-bearing women.
He received 96,677 votes, or 0.4 percent of the total, finishing seventh among 10
candidates in the election.
brk@yna.co.kr
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