Gwangju Police Refer Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo to Prosecution for "Illegal Donation" Charges

Donated food ingredients in Gwangju with personal funds during early election period
Raised concerns of election law violation... Declared presidential bid two weeks later
Police conclude "allegations substantiated"... Statute of limitations exp

Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo has been referred to the prosecution on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act for making an "illegal donation" during the period when an early presidential election was confirmed. The police determined that Han's act of personally sponsoring food ingredients in Gwangju while serving as acting president constituted a donation under the election law.

On the afternoon of the 2nd, former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who visited the National May 18 Democratic Cemetery in Buk-gu, Gwangju, appealed for a visit by saying, "I am also from Honam," after being blocked by members of civic and social organizations such as Gwangju Emergency Action. Photo by Yonhap News

The Gwangju Metropolitan Police Agency's Anti-Corruption and Economic Crime Investigation Unit announced on the 24th that it had forwarded Han, who was booked without detention on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act, to the prosecution. Investigations found that on April 15, during his visit to Gwangju, Han personally sponsored food ingredients to a local restaurant operating a public service project for the underprivileged, known for its "1,000-won set meal."

At the time, an early presidential election had been confirmed following the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk-yeol. About two weeks after the sponsorship, on May 2, Han announced his candidacy for the presidential election. The Innovation Party for the Motherland filed a complaint, claiming that Han's sponsorship constituted a donation prohibited by the Public Official Election Act. After summoning Han for questioning on the 15th of this month, the police concluded that the allegations were substantiated.

The statute of limitations for violations of the Public Official Election Act is six months, and the statute of limitations for this case will expire on December 3.