Prosecution Indicts Former Ulsan Mayor Song Cheol-ho on Charges Including Bribery

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] Former Ulsan Mayor Song Cheol-ho has been indicted on charges of accepting bribes and solicitations from local used car dealers.

On the morning of the 11th, the 5th Criminal Division of the Ulsan District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Noh Seon-gyun) announced that former Mayor Song was indicted without detention on charges including bribery and violation of the Political Funds Act. B, former head of the integrated election campaign headquarters of Song’s campaign, C, former member of the Ulsan Citizens’ Newspaper Committee, and D, the businessman who made the solicitation, were also indicted together.

Former Ulsan Mayor Song Cheol-ho is attending a trial on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act in connection with allegations of the Blue House's interference and special investigation in the Ulsan mayoral election case at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on March 14 last year. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

The prosecution judged that former Mayor Song and campaign headquarters head B received a total of 20 million won from local businessman D in June 2018, just before Song’s election as Ulsan mayor, at an election-related office, in exchange for solicitations such as land use changes and lifting building height restrictions. Separately, B is also charged with receiving a total of 32 million won from D for arranging a direct meeting with former Mayor Song and requesting help with civil complaints.

Furthermore, D is reported to have given 50 million won in January 2011 to C, a member of the Citizens’ Newspaper Committee established during Song’s tenure, in exchange for similar solicitations.

This case was initially uncovered during the investigation of the "Ulsan mayoral election interference suspicion case" by the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office. A prosecution official stated, "Due to jurisdictional issues, the case was transferred to Ulsan," and added, "Based on evidence obtained through account tracking and search and seizure, former Mayor Song and others were indicted."