[Column] The Temptation of Money Power, the Candidate to Watch Out for Most

How Long Will the Mudslinging Last Over Nomination Bribery and Money Distribution Allegations?

Money envelopes and cash seized by the Election Commission. This image is unrelated to the article content.

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Kim Chunsu] As the June 1 nationwide simultaneous local elections approach their final stages, in some regions, the police have requested arrest warrants for election campaigners who distributed money envelopes to local residents on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act, revealing that the festival of democracy is being plagued by the temptation of money politics.

Due to the characteristic of Gwangju and Jeonnam regions where nomination equals election victory, rumors that tens of billions of won were paid as nomination bribes amid all kinds of smear campaigns during the primaries have deeply discouraged voters, eventually leading to the distribution of money envelopes, prompting scornful remarks like "Why hold such elections?" that make faces burn with embarrassment.

The shame is equally shared by both the giver and the receiver of the money.

In particular, the money envelope incidents that occurred during the election campaigns for the Damyang County Governor and Gokseong County Governor in Jeonnam, which had been quietly hushed up as covert vote-buying, must be clearly revealed through investigations and inquiries by the Election Commission and judicial authorities.

The Damyang police requested an arrest warrant for Mr. A, who stored about 40 money envelopes containing a total of 12.25 million won and candidate costumes in his vehicle, on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act, but the court reportedly dismissed the warrant, judging there was no risk of evidence destruction or flight.

Also, Mr. B, who works as the general manager of an apartment complex in Gokseong County, is under investigation by the Election Commission for delivering money envelopes containing 100,000 won along with candidate business cards to residents, asking them to support a certain candidate running for Gokseong County Governor.

Furthermore, rumors are circulating that Mr. C was caught receiving a money envelope containing 300,000 won, which a certain candidate’s side slipped into his back pocket in front of his house, and storing it in his vehicle; he initially denied the facts during the Jeonnam Election Commission’s investigation but admitted them after the investigation team presented video footage as evidence, causing local public sentiment to be shaken.

Mr. A, a campaigner for the Damyang County Governor election, reportedly testified during police questioning that "the money envelopes were unrelated to the candidate and were not delivered," but the police who enforced the law at the scene stated, "Transporting money envelopes related to the election also violates the Public Official Election Act."

Mr. B from Gokseong County, who distributed 100,000 won and business cards, is also embroiled in controversy as a recording of him saying "I need to retrieve the money envelopes given to some residents" has already been handed over to the Election Commission, making the money distribution a confirmed fact that is unsettling the Gokseong area.

The Election Commission points out that among election law violations, "donation and bribery acts" are the foremost election crimes that fundamentally undermine election order, and if illegal acts are revealed, regardless of election results, fines and imprisonment await, making it a serious crime that may require a re-election depending on the outcome.

Moreover, voters who receive money must also be aware that they face up to 30 million won in fines and, if the amount exceeds 1 million won, imprisonment, resulting not only in financial loss but also becoming a convicted offender under the Public Official Election Act.

It is entirely the voters’ responsibility to resist the temptation of money politics. If there is a candidate who tries to win votes with money envelopes in an election to choose capable local leaders, that candidate should be the one to be most wary of.