[Exclusive] Police Refer Nonsan Mayor Baek Sunghyun to Prosecution for 'Holiday Gift Donation' Charges

Six Officials Also Referred for Election Law Violations
Two Accused of Breach of Duty for Paying Legal Fees with Public Funds

With about seven months remaining until next year’s local elections, the police have referred Baek Sung-hyun, Mayor of Nonsan, South Chungcheong Province, and city hall officials to the prosecution on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act.

Additionally, two officials accused of paying lawyers’ fees for other officials with public funds have also been referred to the prosecution.

On November 4, the South Chungcheong Provincial Police Agency announced that it had referred Mayor Baek and six Nonsan City Hall officials to the prosecution on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act (prohibited donation activities), and two other officials on charges of breach of duty.

According to reporting by The Asia Business Daily, Mayor Baek and others are accused of sending gift sets worth approximately 2.7 million won to about 80 constituents in their district, along with the mayor’s business card, by mail during the Lunar New Year and Chuseok holidays from 2023 to 2024.

Previously, in November last year, the South Chungcheong Provincial Election Commission filed a complaint with the police against Mayor Baek and three officials on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act.

The Public Official Election Act prohibits heads of local governments from providing money or goods to constituents or engaging in donation activities in a manner that reveals their identity, unless based on laws or ordinances.

Separately, the police also referred two city hall officials to the prosecution on charges of breach of duty. They are accused of using the city budget to pay the lawyers’ fees for colleagues who were under investigation for violating the election law.