Police Launch Investigation into University Student Progressive Union for Obstructing Oh Se-hoon’s Election Campaign

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] A student group that held a protest at the campaign site of Oh Se-hoon, the United Future Party candidate running for the Seoul Gwangjin-eul district in the April 15 general election, will be investigated by the police.

On the 23rd, the Seoul Gwangjin Police Station announced that it had launched an investigation on the 19th into the Seoul University Student Progressive Union (Daejin-yeon) on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act for holding one-person protests and carrying placards criticizing candidate Oh at subway stations and other locations.

The police view Daejin-yeon's one-person protests with banners and placards in front of Oh's campaign office and subway stations from the 12th to the 20th as violations of the Public Official Election Act. Daejin-yeon has protested holding placards stating "Politicians cannot make donations" and other messages, regarding Oh giving 1.2 million won in total?5 to 10 million won each?to five security guards and cleaners at the apartment where he resides during last year's and this year's Lunar New Year and Chuseok holidays.

When Daejin-yeon disrupted the election campaign, Oh held a one-person protest in front of the Gwangjin Police Station that morning, claiming that the police had not taken proper action. He also posted on his Facebook, stating, "The Gwangjin Police Station was already aware of Daejin-yeon's illegal acts, which goes beyond dereliction of duty and can be seen as protecting them," and added, "I will suspend my election campaign until the person responsible for neglecting and aiding the dereliction of duty is identified and investigated."

It is known that the police had been passive in responding on-site, following the Election Commission's position that Daejin-yeon's protests were difficult to see as violations of election laws. However, after reviewing the law on this day, they judged there was a possibility of election law violations and decided to start an investigation.

A police official said, "If any shortcomings are found in the on-site response after investigation, appropriate measures will be taken," and added, "We will strictly respond, including arresting offenders in flagrante delicto, to prevent similar election law violations from occurring."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.