Elected Officials Including Park Byung-kyu and Kim Yi-gang Also Subject to Investigation
[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Jin-hyung] Following the conclusion of the June 1 local elections, the Gwangju and Jeonnam police have launched a full-scale investigation into election-related crimes.
Since the statute of limitations for election crimes is six months from the election day, they plan to respond swiftly and strictly.
According to the Gwangju Police Agency and Jeonnam Police Agency on the 2nd, a total of 234 individuals (138 cases) are currently under investigation for violations of the Public Official Election Act.
The Gwangju police are investigating 47 people in 38 cases, and separately, 5 people (3 cases) were not prosecuted due to reasons such as withdrawal of complaints.
By type of crime, there are 12 people (9 cases) for false information disclosure, 10 people (10 cases) for candidate defamation, 4 people (3 cases) for bribery, 5 people (3 cases) for interference with election freedom, 16 people (16 cases) for banner damage, and 5 people (3 cases) for others.
In Jeonnam, 187 people in 100 cases are under investigation. Among them, 44 suspects (19 cases) have already been handed over to the prosecution, and investigations have been closed for 18 people (12 cases).
By type, there are 104 people (32 cases) for providing bribes, 46 people (34 cases) for false information disclosure, 13 people (7 cases) for government official involvement, 12 people (7 cases) for pre-election campaigning, 9 people (9 cases) for poster damage, and 65 people (42 cases) for others.
Overall, bribery cases account for 108 people (35 cases), the highest number, indicating that illegal and corrupt elections are still taking place. This is followed by false information disclosure and government official involvement.
A representative case of government official involvement is that an employee of the Public Relations Office at Yeongam County Office in Jeonnam distributed a press release promoting the award achievements related to the ruling party of the incumbent county governor. The press release titled ‘Yeongam County Governor Jeon Dong-pyeong Achieves 1st Grade Award for Contributions to the Development of the Democratic Party!’ was delivered to dozens of media outlets.
The investigation also includes elected officials, so further repercussions from the election are expected.
Park Byung-gyu, the elected mayor of Gwangsan District, Gwangju, is under police investigation for distributing money to party members. The allegation is that in mid-January, at a restaurant in Gwangsan District, he handed an envelope containing 300,000 won in cash to Kim, a Democratic Party member.
Notably, this electoral district is where former Gwangsan District Mayor Kim Sam-ho was accused of violating election laws and was embroiled in legal battles throughout his term, drawing attention to the outcome of the ongoing investigation.
Kim Yi-gang, the elected mayor of Seo District, Gwangju, is under investigation for false information disclosure, and Lee Byung-no, the elected county governor of Damyang, is under investigation for providing money under the pretext of congratulatory and condolence events.
If a basic local government head is sentenced to a fine of 1 million won or more for violating election laws, their election will be invalidated.
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