The Chungcheongnam-do Election Commission announced on April 22 that it had reported four individuals, including prospective candidate A, to the Hongseong Branch of the Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office on suspicion of illegally providing food and beverages to voters in connection with the 9th nationwide local elections scheduled for next year.
According to the Election Commission, on March 26 at around 7:00 p.m., A and others are suspected of providing food and beverages worth approximately 350,000 won to seven voters at a restaurant within the constituency where A is preparing to run, while soliciting their support for next year's local elections.
According to Articles 113 and 115 of the Public Official Election Act, no one is allowed to make donations on behalf of a person seeking to become a candidate in a public election, except in cases permitted by law, and the provision of food and beverages is also strictly restricted.
An official from the Chungnam Election Commission stated, "As the local elections approach, we expect similar illegal cases to increase," and urged "active reporting and whistleblowing of violations" to help establish a fair and clean election culture.
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