Prosecutors Indict Former Seoul Education Superintendent Candidate Jo Young-dal on Charges of 'Offering Bribes'

Former Seoul Superintendent of Education candidate Jo Young-dal is attending the Seoul Superintendent of Education election candidates' debate held at KBS in Yeouido, Seoul, on May 23. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Association

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] Former candidate Cho Youngdal (62), who is accused of illegally giving money and goods to campaign workers during this year's Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education Superintendent election (violation of the Local Education Autonomy Act), has been indicted while in custody.

On the afternoon of the 1st, the Public Investigation Division 2 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Lee Sanghyun) announced that Cho was indicted in custody the day before on charges of violating the Local Education Autonomy Act. Ten other campaign staff members were also indicted together.

Previously, Cho was accused of paying 50 million won, exceeding the legal limit, to Mr. A, the head of the campaign support headquarters during the election process. Regarding this, Mr. A reportedly distributed about 11 million won to campaign staff and others from April to June, and Mr. B, the general headquarters chief of the campaign, provided about 30 million won to campaign staff and others from March to May, according to investigations.

The Local Education Autonomy Act largely applies provisions from the Public Official Election Act, which stipulates that only actual expenses and legally fixed allowances (such as 60,000 won for election workers) can be paid to election workers and others.

On the 26th, Judge Kim Jungmin, in charge of warrants at the Seoul Central District Court, issued arrest warrants for Cho, Mr. A, and Mr. B, stating, "There is a significant concern that evidence may be destroyed among the co-suspects due to their positions and relationships during the election process." Eight other campaign staff members who received money from them were indicted without detention on the same day.

Cho, who previously served as the Presidential Secretary for Education and Culture and as Dean of the College of Education at Seoul National University, ranked 4th in this year's election with 6.63% of the vote. The winner was Superintendent Cho Hee-yeon, who secured 38.1% of the vote.