Prosecutors appeal ruling on opposition head

JINJU, South Korea, Jan. 6 (Yonhap) -- Prosecutors filed an appeal on Tuesday
against a court ruling fining the head of the minor opposition Democratic Labor
Party (DLP), claiming the penalty was too light for his "grave" violation of
election law.
The Changwon District Court fined Rep. Kang Ki-kab of the DLP 800,000 won
(US$611) last week for his alleged defamation of a rival candidate during the
April 2008 parliamentary elections. A fine of over 1 million won would have
stripped him of his seat at parliament.
The Changwon District Prosecutors' Office said that it filed an appeal with the
high court, arguing that the sentencing was "too light in comparison with the
apparent wrongdoing."
Kang was indicted in late October for distributing leaflets critical of rival Lee
Bang-ho, the former secretary general of the ruling Grand National Party (GNP),
during the general election campaign.
The appeal comes amid a voting deadlock between opposition parties and the GNP
over a raft of bills, including ratification of the Korea-U.S. free trade
agreement. The confrontation led to a boycott of the Assembly and parliamentary
paralysis since mid-December.
Kang, a farmer-turned-legislator, is a prominent opponent of the trade deal
signed in June 2007. The deal requires legislative approval from both countries
to be put into effect.
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