The Election Commission Judges Ruling of 'False Statement Publication' on Ruling Party Candidate Jang Jin-young's 'Tax Accountant' Career Claim

Candidate Jang: "No Problem If Tax Accountant Qualification Holders Register"

The National Election Commission judged that Jang Jin-young, the People Power Party candidate running in Seoul Dongjak-gap for the April 10 general election, falsely stated "tax accountant" in his career, which constitutes "false information disclosure" under the Public Official Election Act.

According to the Election Commission on the 6th, the Seoul Election Commission determined that Jang's indication of "tax accountant" in election posters and public notices was false information disclosure. Accordingly, a notice informing voters at the early voting stations in Dongjak-gap about Jang's violation of the election law was posted.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Election Commission's position is that although Jang holds a tax accountant certificate, he has not passed the tax accountant qualification exam and been registered in the tax accountant registry maintained by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, so he should not have listed "tax accountant" in his career.

In response, Jang stated on Facebook, "I am a holder of a tax accountant certificate granted by the Minister of Economy and Finance in 2009," and explained, "The Tax Accountant Act was amended so that even if one has the tax accountant qualification, one cannot use the title 'tax accountant' without registration. This law was changed to protect the tax agency market of tax accountants."

Jang emphasized, "That does not mean that a person holding a tax accountant qualification is not a tax accountant. If you pay the registration fee and register with the Tax Accountant Association, there is no problem using the title 'tax accountant.' Displaying one's career in a public election is completely unrelated to protecting the tax accountant business market."

He added, "If one has the tax accountant qualification, whether expressed as 'holder of a tax accountant certificate' or simply 'tax accountant,' it does not affect voters' choices, yet the Seoul Election Commission acted as an interest group for tax accountants, which is deeply regrettable," and announced, "I will file an urgent injunction application with the Seoul Administrative Court."