Daegu Citizens' Coalition Requests Corruption Investigation into Mayor Hong Joonpyo... "Cannot Trust Police Inquiry"

Police Do Not Refer Election Law Case

"Two Related Officials Referred to Prosecution"

Daegu Citizens' Coalition requested an investigation of Daegu Mayor Hong Joonpyo by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) on the 28th.

In a statement released on the same day, Daegu Citizens' Coalition said, "In February 2023, we filed a complaint against Daegu city officials and Mayor Hong Joonpyo for allegedly violating the Public Official Election Act, after they promoted the mayor's achievements multiple times on the official Daegu City YouTube channel 'DaeguTV' and the mayor's personal channel 'Hongkakola.' In April of the same year, we also requested an investigation of Lee Sibok, then Chief Secretary of Daegu City, for promoting the mayor's achievements on social media and other platforms under the same allegations."

Daegu City Hall

Daegu Metropolitan Police Agency, which investigated the case, referred the city officials in charge of YouTube to the prosecution on June 3rd on charges of illegal electioneering. On June 10th, former Chief Secretary Lee Sibok was also referred on the same charges. However, Mayor Hong Joonpyo was not referred, as the police concluded there was no evidence of conspiracy.

Daegu Citizens' Coalition stated, "We found it difficult to trust the results of the police investigation, so we requested the CIO to investigate Mayor Hong Joonpyo."

Daegu Citizens' Coalition further stated, "By requesting the CIO to investigate this case, we urge a strict and swift investigation. The allegations against Mayor Hong Joonpyo constitute 'crimes of high-ranking officials' under the Act on the Establishment and Operation of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, making them subject to CIO investigation. Furthermore, the police did not even summon Mayor Hong Joonpyo for questioning during their investigation, and if they became aware of crimes by high-ranking officials during the process, they were required by law to notify the CIO, which they failed to do. For these reasons, an investigation by the CIO is necessary."