Ex-Lawmaker Noh Woong-rae’s Bribery Acquittal Finalized as Prosecution Drops Appeal
- South Korea's prosecution has decided not to appeal the recent court rulings acquitting former lawmaker Noh Woong-rae on bribery and illegal political fund charges, according to reports from...
- Prosecutors confirmed they would not take the case to the Supreme Court following not-guilty verdicts in both the first and second trials.
- The decision not to appeal drew immediate political pushback from conservative circles.
South Korea’s prosecution has decided not to appeal the recent court rulings acquitting former lawmaker Noh Woong-rae on bribery and illegal political fund charges, according to reports from outlets including the Hankyoreh and KBS News. The decision brings an official legal end to the case that centered on allegations that the former politician accepted tens of millions of won in illicit funds.
Prosecution Abandons Appeal After Lower Court Acquittals
Prosecutors confirmed they would not take the case to the Supreme Court following not-guilty verdicts in both the first and second trials. The state’s decision leaves the acquittal on bribery and illegal political fund charges final. Under South Korean legal procedure, declining to file an appeal within the statutory window allows the appellate court’s judgment to stand permanently. The judicial outcome concludes a legal battle for Noh, who faced accusations of receiving 60 million won in illegal money. Both the initial trial court and the appellate court found insufficient legal proof to sustain the conviction. By passing on a Supreme Court challenge, the prosecution effectively closes the dossier on the core bribery allegations, removing the threat of further penal penalties tied to those specific charges.
Political Aftershocks and Ruling Party Reactions
The decision not to appeal drew immediate political pushback from conservative circles. According to the Weekly Kyunghyang, ruling party figures referenced cash envelope allegations surrounding the opposition politician and called for a response from Han Dong-hoon. The finalization of the acquittal removes the immediate courtroom jeopardy for Noh, yet it leaves behind lingering partisan friction. Lawmakers from the ruling bloc criticized the legal decisions, contrasting the dropped appeal with the severity of the original legislative and prosecutorial scrutiny. The closure of the case now shifts the arena entirely back to the political sphere, where rival parties continue to debate the broader implications of the investigation’s collapse.
