Police Launch Investigation into Jin Seong-jun's Alleged 'Recruitment of Party Members with Money'... Sponsor's Office Raided

Jin Seong-jun, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, attended the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 17th and was talking with Kim Young-jin, the chief deputy representative, before the meeting started. Jin made a controversial remark during a TV debate on real estate measures, saying, "Even if you do that, house prices will not fall." Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] The police have launched an investigation into allegations that Jin Seong-jun, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea (Seoul Gangseo-eul), solicited party members with money and goods.

The Seoul Gangseo Police Station announced on the 20th that on the 11th, they conducted a search and seizure of the office of Jo Mo, a local construction businessman identified as a sponsor in connection with the allegations against Representative Jin.

It is known that the police secured some materials necessary for the investigation through the search and seizure.

A police official stated, "We cannot disclose the details of the secured materials as the matter is under investigation."

Meanwhile, the allegations of soliciting party members with money and goods against Representative Jin were raised at a press conference on the 4th held at the National Assembly titled 'Declaration of Conscience Regarding Illegal Activities of the Democratic Party Gangseo-eul Regional Committee,' arranged by Jo Su-jin, a member of the People Power Party.

At the press conference, Yoon Doo-kwon, vice chairman of the Democratic Party Gangseo-eul, claimed, "In Gangseo-gu, where the Democratic Party is in power, party members were illegally recruited using cash, and the list of registered party members was illegally leaked."

Furthermore, on the 10th, Representative Jo revealed, "Sponsor Jo Mo gave 40 million won to Vice Chairman Yoon Doo-kwon, who then handed out 3 million won each to various middle-level organizers. They, in turn, distributed about 300,000 won each to lower-level recruiters as compensation for recruiting registered party members."

In response, Representative Jin denied ever recruiting party members in exchange for money or goods. He explained, "The Gangseo-eul Regional Committee has never used any money or other illegal means in recruiting registered party members."