Pretrial Detention for Spreading False Information... Police Launch Crackdown on Election-Related Crimes

Election Crime Crackdown System Begins Today
2,096-Member Task Forces Deployed Nationwide
Police Focus Investigative Capabilities Ahead of Prosecution Service Abolition

The police are launching a full-scale crackdown on election-related crimes ahead of the 9th nationwide local elections.

The National Investigation Headquarters of the Korean National Police Agency announced on February 3 that it will implement a comprehensive crackdown system to ensure the fairness of the local elections scheduled for June 3. Starting today, the police will deploy a dedicated election crime investigation team consisting of 2,096 officers across 18 provincial police agencies and 261 police stations nationwide, and will strengthen intelligence gathering on various illegal activities related to the election. The plan is to enforce the crackdown strictly and fairly in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.

National Police Agency, Seoul Seodaemun-gu. Photo by Jinhyung Kang

In particular, the police have designated the following as the "five major election crimes" that seriously undermine the fairness of elections: ▲ spreading false information ▲ bribery ▲ involvement of public officials in elections ▲ illegal mobilization of organizations ▲ election-related violence. The police will apply a zero-tolerance policy to these offenses. Regardless of political party or status, offenders will be prosecuted, and the crackdown will also target not only those who commit illegal acts but also those who plan or direct such acts, as well as the sources of illegal funds.

Furthermore, the police will focus on cracking down on the malicious dissemination of false or manipulated information through social networking services (SNS) and other media, as well as the organized distribution of such information using macro programs, especially when these actions are intended to influence voters' decisions without verifying the facts-going beyond simply providing information about candidates or raising legitimate criticisms and suspicions for candidate vetting. For the distribution of false or manipulated information that seriously undermines the fairness of the election, the police plan to hold offenders strictly accountable, including through pretrial detention and other strong measures.

Above all, the police are also preparing for the fact that, with the impending abolition of the Prosecutors' Office, investigations into election-related crimes will effectively be centered on the police. Under current law, the statute of limitations for election crimes is six months. A representative of the National Investigation Headquarters emphasized, "With the abolition of the Prosecutors' Office and the establishment of the Serious Crime Investigation Office and the Public Prosecution Office scheduled for October this year, investigations into election crimes will be led by the police. We will carry out strict and fair crackdowns based on our accumulated investigative capabilities and expertise, working closely with related agencies such as the National Election Commission."