The police have launched an investigation into Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon of Sarang Jeil Church and Kim Hak-seong, the nomination committee chairman of the Liberty Unification Party, who are suspected of engaging in proportional representation nomination trading.
According to the Yeongdeungpo Police Station in Seoul on the 29th, a complaint has been filed against Pastor Jeon and Chairman Kim on charges including violation of the Election Act.
Lee Ha-young, a preliminary candidate for the Liberty Unification Party's proportional representation, claimed that she was asked for bribes amounting to hundreds of millions of won during the nomination discussions.
The police have registered Pastor Jeon and others as suspects and plan to investigate the specific amount of offerings and whether there were any discussions involving money or goods in exchange for nominations.
On the same day, Pastor Jeon held an emergency press conference and denied ever demanding bribes from preliminary candidates. He added, "We will respond strongly by utilizing all civil and criminal means and methods to ensure that no one suffers damage from media distortions based on baseless claims."
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