Gyeongnam Police Agency Sends 178 for Election Law Violations, Detains 4

Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency. / Photo by Se-ryeong Lee ryeong@

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] The Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency completed the investigation of election-related criminal cases for the 8th nationwide simultaneous local elections held in June.

The provincial police agency announced on the 2nd that they investigated a total of 228 cases involving 434 people, of whom 178 were sent to the prosecution and 4 were detained.

They concluded that 169 people would not be prosecuted, and 87 people had their investigations closed before being booked.

Number of cases and percentages by investigative clues. [Image source=Gyeongnam Police Agency]

According to the provincial police agency, the investigation leads were 120 cases of complaints, accusations, and petitions, accounting for 52.6% of the total; 56 cases (24.6%) were referrals and investigation requests from the Election Commission; 34 cases (14.9%) were intelligence reports; and 18 cases (7.9%) were reports, etc.

Number of People and Proportion by Crime Type. [Image Source=Gyeongnam Police Agency]

The most common type of crime was spreading false information, involving 129 people, followed by providing money and entertainment, involving 116 people.

To prepare for the presidential and local elections held consecutively this year, the provincial police agency operated an election crime investigation situation room in 24 police stations across the province from November 9 last year, establishing a 24-hour response system.

They formed a dedicated investigation team of 264 members to focus on election crime investigations.

During the investigation of election crimes for the local elections following the presidential election, they activated a communication network with local police stations and the jurisdictional prosecution offices to handle election cases within the short six-month statute of limitations.

The local heads of organizations in the province who were prosecuted for violating the Public Official Election Act related to this local election are Hong Nampyo, Changwon Special City Mayor; Kim Booyoung, Changnyeong County Governor; and Goo Inmo, Geochang County Governor.

Park Jongwoo, Geoje Mayor; Oh Taewan, Uiryeong County Governor; Jin Byungyoung, Hamyang County Governor; Lee Seunghwa, Sancheong County Governor; and Ha Seungcheol, Hadong County Governor were not prosecuted, and Jang Choongnam, Namhae County Governor was also not sent for prosecution.

Park Jonghoon, Superintendent of Gyeongnam Office of Education, who had been under investigation for false information publication and defamation charges, was also decided not to be prosecuted.

A representative of the provincial police agency said, “In preparation for the upcoming provincial sports association president and city/county sports association president elections to be held on the 15th, and the nationwide simultaneous cooperative association head elections next March, we will strengthen crackdowns on violations of the entrusted election law with the jurisdictional election commission.”

They added, “If you see or become aware of various illegal acts such as frequent bribery during the entrusted election process, please actively report or provide tips.”