Police Conduct Search and Seizure at Ando-geol, Democratic Party's Gwangju Dongnam-eul Preliminary Candidate's Location

The police have conducted a search and seizure on the Democratic Party preliminary candidate for Dong-gu Nam-gu Eul, Gwangju Metropolitan City, on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act.

The Anti-Corruption Economic Crime Investigation Unit of the Gwangju Police Agency announced on the 19th that investigators executed a search warrant at the campaign office of candidate An and the residence of the accused on the 19th.

This search and seizure followed the receipt of a complaint alleging that a campaign official of candidate An committed false statement publication and donation acts prohibited under the Public Official Election Act.

The complaint was submitted to the Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office, but the case was transferred to the Gwangju Police Agency, where the Anti-Corruption Investigation Unit was assigned to investigate.

The complaint included allegations that volunteers from candidate An's campaign posted false information in an SNS group chat, which included local voters and party members, claiming that Lee Byung-hoon, the incumbent lawmaker for Dong-gu Nam-gu Eul, Gwangju, was rated in the bottom 20% in a lawmaker evaluation.

Additionally, suspicions were raised that campaign officials of candidate An provided money and meal expenses to volunteers and election workers.

Candidate An responded, saying, "I have no knowledge of any details regarding the allegations of providing money," and added, "The Lee Byung-hoon camp did not accept the primary results and filed a complaint with the prosecution; we will file a defamation and false accusation lawsuit against them."