Incheon Civic Groups Request Investigation into Public Officials Who Worked at Yoo Jeong-bok's Primary Campaign Camp

A civic group has requested a police investigation into allegations that public officials were active in the election campaign of Yoo Jeong-bok, mayor of Incheon and a presidential primary candidate of the People Power Party.

On the 16th, the Incheon Peace and Welfare Solidarity submitted a request to the Incheon Police Agency to investigate 10 former fixed-term public officials of Incheon City on suspicion of violating the Public Official Election Act. They also filed a request with the Incheon City Election Commission to verify the related allegations.

The group stated, "There are allegations that fixed-term public officials of Incheon City have been active in Mayor Yoo's primary campaign while still holding their public official status without being processed as retired," adding, "If the allegations are true, an investigation into the illegality is necessary."

They further criticized, "Mayor Yoo and his campaign have not provided a clear explanation regarding this matter, and three of the fixed-term public officials involved in the controversy reportedly returned to Incheon City and submitted requests to withdraw their resignations," and said, "If there are illegal activities amid the growing allegations, strict punishment should be imposed."

Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok registered as a candidate for the 21st presidential election primary at the People Power Party headquarters in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, on the 14th. Yoo Jeong-bok candidate election camp

Earlier, allegations arose that 10 fixed-term public officials affiliated with the Incheon City Secretary's Office, Public Relations Planning Office, and Political Coordination Office joined Mayor Yoo's primary campaign and engaged in election activities without having been officially dismissed.

They submitted their resignations on the same day Mayor Yoo declared his presidential candidacy on the 9th, but since it usually takes more than two weeks to process resignations, they effectively conducted election campaigning while still holding public official status. The Public Official Election Act prohibits public officials from engaging in election campaigning.

The Incheon Peace and Welfare Solidarity also filed a complaint with the Incheon Police Agency regarding allegations that public officials were mobilized for the promotion of the People Power Party Governors' Association, chaired by Mayor Yoo.

The group claimed, "From July to September last year, the former spokesperson repeatedly distributed press releases of the People Power Party Governors' Association to reporters, and one of these was an official press release in the name of Incheon City, with the person in charge being a secretary of Incheon City," adding, "This constitutes a violation of the Local Public Officials Act, as public officials engaged in party work."

The group requested the police to investigate Mayor Yoo for abuse of authority and to apply charges of violating the Local Public Officials Act against the former spokesperson and former secretary of the secretary's office of Incheon City, stating, "As the chairman of the association, Mayor Yoo cannot avoid moral and legal responsibility."