How Did They Get My Number... Unwanted Calls from Heo Kyung-young Anytime, Source of Million-Won Costs

Heo Kyung-young's 'Vote Encouragement' Calls Spark Election Law Violation Controversy
"Simple Vote Encouragement Calls Are Not Election Law Violations... Heo Kyung-young's Main Income Source Is 'Lectures'"

Honorary Representative Heo Kyung-young of the National Revolutionary Party responded to the cheers of supporters after completing the registration as a preliminary candidate for the 20th presidential election at the Gwacheon Central Election Commission on the morning of October 18.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] As repeated calls encouraging voting from Heo Kyung-young, the presidential candidate of the National Revolutionary Party, are made to an unspecified number of people, questions are arising among citizens about his sources of income. Some even raise concerns that these calls might violate election laws.

On the 23rd, reporter Kwon Young-chul reported on this matter on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show.'

He first clarified that Heo's calls do not violate election laws. Reporter Kwon stated, "Article 58, Clause 2 of the Public Official Election Act stipulates that 'anyone may encourage participation in voting.' The calls do not include requests to support him personally. They only ask people to participate in voting, not to vote for Heo Kyung-young, so it is not illegal."

Reporter Kwon added, "An official from the Central Election Commission also said, 'Under the current election law, whether using ARS calls, ARS text messages, or ARS phone messages, even if the sender identifies themselves, as long as it is purely to encourage voting participation, it does not violate election laws.'"

When the host asked, "How did candidate Heo obtain citizens' personal phone numbers?" Reporter Kwon replied, "If personal information had leaked, that would be problematic, but it is not that they knew specific individual phone numbers." He explained that phone numbers were randomly extracted through a service company in a manner similar to a public opinion survey, and calls were made randomly.

According to reporter Kwon, if 12 million calls are made, the cost is about 120 million won.

When the host asked about Heo's income structure, reporter Kwon said, "Heo's main income comes from lecture fees." It is known that attending Heo's lectures costs 100,000 won, and participating in meetings costs 200,000 won.

He added, "Heo's side asked, 'Do you know the highest price Warren Buffett ever paid for a single meal?' Upon checking, the highest price was 5.4 billion won. Heo's side said there are people who pay hundreds of millions of won to have a meal with Heo."

He also said, "A 'Baekgunghaeng ticket' sold by Heo costs 3 million won per unit, receiving a 'blessing' from Heo costs 1 million won, and paying 100 million won grants the title of 'Archangel.' Heo's side only accepts all payments in cash."