Andong Election Commission Files Complaint Against Two Andong City Hall Senior Officials for Collecting 16 Party Membership Applications

The Andong City Election Commission in North Gyeongsang Province reported on January 9 that it has filed a complaint with the North Gyeongsang Provincial Police Agency against two senior officials (identified as A and B) from Andong City Hall. They are accused of participating in party membership recruitment by collecting and delivering membership application forms for a specific political party.

According to the Andong Election Commission, "A is suspected of delivering 12 membership application forms, collected by the head of a local organization for people with disabilities around mid-December last year, to C. B is suspected of collecting four membership application forms through a local community leader around July last year and arranging for them to be delivered to C." The commission further stated, "Since public officials' involvement in elections can have a significant impact on election outcomes, we plan to mobilize all available resources and scientific investigation techniques to take strict action against all those involved whenever such suspicions are detected."

Andong Election Commission

According to Article 85, Paragraph 1 of the Public Official Election Act (Prohibition of Public Officials' Involvement in Elections), public officials are prohibited from engaging in activities that influence elections by abusing their duties or positions. Those who violate this provision may be subject to imprisonment for up to five years or a fine of up to 20 million won under Article 255, Paragraph 6 of the same law (Crime of Illegal Electioneering).

Additionally, Article 57, Paragraph 2, Subparagraph 5 of the Local Public Officials Act (Prohibition of Political Activities) states that public officials are prohibited from encouraging others to join or not join a political party or other political organization. Violators may be subject to imprisonment for up to three years and disqualification for up to three years under Article 82, Paragraph 1 of the same law (Crime of Political Activities).