Prosecutors Conduct Additional Search and Seizure at Central Election Commission Over 'Hiring Corruption Allegations'

"Search and Seizure Needed for Audit Board Investigation Request Case"

The prosecution, investigating allegations of 'recruitment corruption' at the Election Commission, has conducted additional raids on the Central Election Commission offices and other locations.

According to the legal community on the 25th, the Public Investigation Division 1 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Lee Chan-gyu) dispatched prosecutors and investigators from the morning to secure recruitment-related materials at multiple sites, including the Central Election Commission and Incheon Election Commission offices.

Since May of last year, the prosecution has been investigating allegations of recruitment corruption, such as preferential hiring of children, based on the Election Commission's own investigation requests and complaints from the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission.

In September, October, and November of last year, the prosecution conducted raids on the offices of the Central, Seoul, Daejeon, Jeonnam, and Chungbuk Election Commissions, as well as the residences of former Election Commission Secretary-General Park Chan-jin and former Deputy Secretary Song Bong-seop.

In March of this year, former Deputy Secretary Song was indicted without detention on charges of illicitly arranging his daughter's recruitment, and investigations into the remaining suspects, including former Secretary-General Park, are ongoing. The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office is also investigating a case requested by the Board of Audit and Inspection in April, asking for an investigation into 27 current and former Election Commission employees suspected of involvement in recruitment corruption.

A prosecution official stated, "During the investigation of the case requested by the Board of Audit and Inspection, the necessity for a raid was confirmed, and a search warrant was issued by the court."