Ex-lawmaker Noh Woong-rae acquitted of illegal political funds charges as prosecution drops appeal

Former Democratic Party lawmaker Noh Woong-rae has been definitively acquitted of charges that he received illegal political funds, as the prosecution announced it would not pursue a further appeal.

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office stated on November 28 that it would not appeal the appellate court's decision. Noh had been indicted on charges of violating the Political Funds Act and accepting bribes, accused of receiving a total of 60 million won from a businessman, identified as Mr. Park, on five occasions in May 2020. Prosecutors alleged that some of these funds were intended for election expenses during the general election and the Democratic Party's national convention.

However, both the first and second trials found Noh not guilty. The appellate court's decision to acquit Noh was influenced by recent judicial trends that apply stricter scrutiny to the legality and procedures of evidence submission, particularly when evidence is voluntarily submitted from existing seized items. The prosecution cited the possibility of the appeal being accepted based on these evolving legal interpretations as a reason for their decision to drop the case.

Noh had been accused of receiving the money in exchange for providing business favors. The prosecution's decision to forgo an appeal effectively ends the legal battle, solidifying Noh's acquittal and clearing him of the charges.