Fabricating Fake Career for a Specific Candidate... Yangsan Election Commission Files Complaint Against a Certain Journalist

Newspaper Publishing, Distribution, Internet Posting, and Requests for Election Campaign Print Materials Production

Gyeongnam Provincial Election Commission.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] The Yangsan City Election Commission in Gyeongnam reported a certain 'journalist' to the Ulsan District Prosecutors' Office for posting false credentials and demanding benefits for a specific preliminary candidate running in the nationwide local elections in June.

According to the Yangsan Election Commission on the 13th, Mr. A published and distributed thousands of copies of a newspaper in early March containing false credentials for a specific preliminary candidate and posted the same on an internet homepage.

He is also accused of publishing and distributing hundreds of copies of a monthly magazine containing the same content and using this as leverage to demand the production of election campaign printed materials from his own company.

Article 250 (False Statement Publication Crime) Paragraph 1 of the Public Official Election Act stipulates that anyone who publishes false facts about a candidate's credentials or other matters by newspaper, communication, magazine, or other means to get elected or help someone get elected shall be punished by imprisonment of up to five years or a fine of up to 30 million won.

Paragraph 3 of Article 97 of the same law states that those who manage, operate, edit, report, write, or cover newspapers, communications, magazines, or other publications shall not receive or solicit money, entertainment, or other benefits.

An official from the Election Commission said, "Basic information such as a candidate's academic background or career can be an important criterion when selecting a candidate," adding, "False statement publication can prevent voters from making correct judgments and is likely to cause distortion, so strict measures will be taken."