2 Fined for Blacklisting

The Supreme Court upheld an appeals court decision Friday, ruling in favor of the state in a suit filed against an advocacy group that campaigned against certain parliamentary candidates by blacklisting them during the general election in April.

Lee Soo-won and Kim Tae-keun of the Ulsan branch of the People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy were fined 3 million won ($2,300) each for blacklisting can- didates during the election.

"While no personal interests were involved,ln the Pusan High Court ruled in July, iuthere are ample signs that the group broke the law considering that the group's activities had a significant impact on the election, that the election law prohibits blacklisting candidates and that the group advocated blacklisting candidates at large rallies."

"Blacklisting candidates directly challenges the government's efforts to hold fair elections," the justices said Friday.

"It is also in clear violation of the election law."

Mr. Lee and others were indicted last year on charges that they campaigned against Kim Tae-ho and three other candidates by holding mass outdoor rallies and putting placards on major thoroughfares in the southern city of Ulsan during the general election last year.

They were part of a nationwide movement that was organized by more than 900 advocacy groups last January and that blacklisted 86 candidates during the election campaign.

"Since the suit against the leadership of the movement is still ongoing and since precedents set by the Supreme Court can always be reversed, we'll wait and see what happens," said Park Won-soon, secretary- general of the People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy.

"The court seems to have interpreted the law too narrowly," said Choi Yul, secretary-general of the Korean Federation for Environmental Movement.

His group also participated in the blacklisting of candidates during the election.

by Shin Dong-jae