Daejeon Election Commission Files Complaint Against Suspect for Sending False Information via Text Messages

Text Messages Containing False Information About Party Pledges Sent to Over 100 People

The Daejeon City Election Commission announced on June 2 that it had filed a complaint with the Daejeon Metropolitan Police Agency against an individual identified as A, on charges of disseminating false information about the pledges of their affiliated political party with the intent of causing a candidate to lose in the 21st presidential election.

A is accused of sending text messages and other communications containing false information to more than 100 people, after the reason for holding the presidential election had been confirmed, while mentioning that the information was related to the pledges of the candidate's political party.

The Public Official Election Act stipulates that anyone who, with the intent of preventing the election of a candidate, publicly announces or causes to be announced false information about a candidate, their spouse, direct ascendants or descendants, or siblings, through speeches, broadcasts, newspapers, telecommunications, magazines, posters, campaign materials, or any other means, shall be subject to imprisonment for up to seven years or a fine ranging from 5 million to 30 million won.

An official from the Daejeon Election Commission stated, "The dissemination of false information is a serious election crime that distorts voters' sound judgment and severely undermines the order of elections. We will respond strictly based on a zero-tolerance policy."