People Power Party Preliminary Candidate Park Il-ho Accused of False Charges and Election Law Violations

Four Media Outlets and Journalists Reporting Favorably on Candidate Park Also Prosecuted Together

Park Il-ho, a preliminary candidate from the People Power Party running in the Gyeongnam districts of Miryang, Uiryeong, Haman, and Changnyeong for the upcoming April 10 general election, has been accused of 'false accusation and violation of the Public Official Election Act' and reported to the prosecution.

Additionally, some media outlets and reporters who unfilteredly reported press releases distributed by Park Il-ho's campaign were also jointly reported.

Changwon District Prosecutors' Office Miryang Branch.

Mr. A, who filed the complaint for election law violations, stated toward the reporters, "These reporters, who did not conduct any investigation into the bribery case involving the incumbent mayor that surfaced ahead of the general election, have repeatedly published articles based solely on press releases provided by candidate Park, who switched from the Miryang mayoral position to a candidate for the April 10 general election. This was done with the clear intention of turning the tide in favor of candidate Park ahead of the primary."

Earlier, on the 27th of last month, candidate Park filed a complaint with the Miryang branch of the Changwon District Prosecutors' Office against a local media reporter and others for election law violations and defamation, alleging false facts and black propaganda intended to influence the election ahead of the primary.

In response, reporter A, who was the subject of the complaint, confirmed on the 5th that Park Il-ho had filed the complaint and announced that on the 4th, he had submitted separate complaints and accusations to the prosecution against candidate Park as well as the media outlets and reporters who published articles favorable to Park ahead of the primary, on charges of 'false accusation and election law violations.'

Mr. A claimed that during the coverage of the case in which Heo Hong, chairman of the Miryang City Council, reported Park Il-ho to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office on bribery charges, he received a tip-off about evidence destruction by candidate Park. Acting on behalf of a joint press corps composed of some reporters covering the case, he requested a rebuttal from candidate Park and his campaign office, but received no response, which led to the publication of the report.

He further criticized, "Although several media outlets reported on the bribery allegations against candidate Park, singling out a specific reporter for complaint is a typical example of 'gagging the press' by those in power, which is absurd and outrageous."

In particular, he claimed, "At the time of the report, acquaintances and campaign officials supporting candidate Park visited and attempted to persuade me to stop the coverage."

Mr. A emphasized, "Since elections are the sacred foundation supporting democracy, it is essential to determine whether the media, which reported in the public's right to know, is at fault, and whether candidate Park, who remained silent to rebuttal requests and instead filed complaints for defamation and violations of the Public Official Election Act, is guilty."

Regarding this, a representative of candidate Park stated, "We are not yet aware of the fact that a complaint has been filed."

Meanwhile, on the 27th of last month, preliminary candidate Park Il-ho was reported for spreading false information by a volunteer from the campaign office of preliminary candidate Park Sang-woong.