On the 22nd, the deadline for candidate registration for the April 10 general election, a total of 25 candidates from Daegu and Gyeongbuk were found to have criminal records. Among them, 7 candidates were punished for drunk driving.
According to the Central Election Management Committee's election statistics system, a total of 31 candidates filed their candidacy in 12 electoral districts in Daegu that day. Among them, 10 candidates have 23 criminal records.
By party, the Democratic Party has 4 candidates, and the People Power Party, Reform New Party, Progressive Party, Our Republican Party, New Progressive Union, and Liberty Unification Party each have 1 candidate.
Kwon Taek-heung, the Democratic Party candidate for Dalseo-gap, has 8 criminal records. In 1996, Kwon was sentenced to 2 years in prison, 3 years probation, and 2 years disqualification for obstruction of special official duties. In 2003, he received 1 year and 6 months imprisonment with 2 years probation for obstruction of special official duties, and in 2015, he was sentenced to 6 months imprisonment with 2 years probation for general traffic obstruction.
Choi Young-oh, the Progressive Party candidate for Dalseo-byeong, has 3 criminal records. In 2011, Choi was sentenced to 1 year imprisonment with 2 years probation for violating the National Security Act (praising and encouraging). He also paid a fine of 1 million KRW in 2007 for violating the Assembly and Demonstration Act, and a fine of 2.5 million KRW in 2016 for property damage.
Shin Hyo-cheol, the Democratic Party candidate for Dong-gu Gunwi-gap, was sentenced in 2006 to 1 year and 6 months imprisonment with 2 years probation for damaging public property, obstruction of special official duties, general traffic obstruction, violations of the Act on the Punishment of Violent Acts (group and weapon-related injury), violations of the Act on the Punishment of Violent Acts (group and weapon-related trespassing), violation of the Assembly and Demonstration Act, and violations of the Act on the Punishment of Violent Acts (group and weapon-related property damage).
In Daegu, two candidates paid fines for drunk driving. Kang Dae-sik, the People Power Party candidate for Dong-gu Gunwi-eul, paid a fine of 2.5 million KRW in 2013, and Shin Dong-hwan, the Democratic Party candidate for Buk-gu-eul, paid a fine of 1 million KRW in 2002.
In Gyeongbuk, 32 candidates registered in 13 electoral districts. Among them, 15 candidates have 23 criminal records. By party, 7 are from the Democratic Party, 5 are independents, and 3 are from the People Power Party.
Park Gyu-hwan, the Democratic Party candidate for Yeongju-Yeongyang-Bonghwa, has 3 criminal records. In 1991, Park was sentenced to 1 year and 6 months imprisonment with 2 years probation and 1 year disqualification for violating the National Security Act (other). In 1997, he was sentenced to 8 months imprisonment with 2 years probation for violating the Military Service Act, and in 2006, he paid a fine of 1.5 million KRW for violating the Special Act on the Treatment of Traffic Accidents.
Choi Kyung-hwan, an independent candidate for Gyeongsan, was sentenced in 2018 to 5 years imprisonment and fined 150 million KRW for violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (bribery). He was prosecuted and his sentence confirmed by the Supreme Court for receiving a bribe of 100 million KRW from the National Intelligence Service as a reward for helping increase the budget during his tenure as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Strategy and Finance in 2014.
Han Young-tae, the Democratic Party candidate for Gyeongju, paid a fine of 1 million KRW in 1998 for theft, and Park Young-chan, an independent candidate for Goryeong-Seongju-Chilgok, paid a fine of 2 million KRW in 2017 for violating the Special Act on the Punishment of Sexual Crimes (confidentiality, etc.).
In Gyeongbuk, 5 candidates paid fines for drunk driving. They are Lee Jae-won, an independent candidate for Pohang Buk-gu; Kim Sang-heon, Democratic Party candidate for Pohang Nam-gu and Ulleung; Kim Hyung-dong, People Power Party candidate for Andong Yecheon; Koo Ja-geun, People Power Party candidate for Gumi-gap; and Lee Seung-rok, independent candidate for Yeongcheon Cheongdo.
Excluding those exempt from military service, 4 Daegu candidates did not serve in the military. Choi Eun-seok, People Power Party candidate for Dong-gu Gunwi-gap, was exempted due to recurrent pneumothorax, and Hwang Soon-gyu, Progressive Party candidate for Dong-gu Gunwi-eul, was exempted due to hyperthyroidism and classified as wartime labor service exemption.
Park Hyung-ryong, Democratic Party candidate for Dalseong-gun, was exempted due to imprisonment, and Chu Kyung-ho, People Power Party member for Dalseong-gun, was exempted after receiving a re-examination classification indicating exemption.
By the same criteria, 3 Gyeongbuk candidates were exempted. Jeong Hee-yong, People Power Party candidate for Goryeong-Seongju-Chilgok, was classified as wartime labor service exemption due to illness; Park Gyu-hwan, Democratic Party candidate for Yeongju-Yeongyang-Bonghwa, was classified as wartime labor service exemption due to imprisonment; and Kim Hyun-kwon, Democratic Party candidate for Gumi-eul, was exempted from conscription due to imprisonment.
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