'Trial on Allegations of 청 Election Interference and Directed Investigation Begins Today'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] The trial for ruling party figures indicted in connection with the Blue House's ordered investigation and election interference allegations will begin on the 23rd.

The Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 21 (Presiding Judge Miri Kim) will hold the first pretrial conference at 10:20 a.m. on the same day for 13 defendants, including Song Cheol-ho, Mayor of Ulsan, who was indicted on charges such as violation of the Public Official Election Act related to allegations of election interference and ordered investigation in the Ulsan mayoral election.

The pretrial conference is a process where the prosecution and defendants organize their positions and issues and discuss future trial procedures. Defendants are not obligated to appear in person.

The core of this case is the allegation that the Blue House illegally intervened in the election preparation process to ensure Mayor Song's victory before the 2018 local elections.

The prosecution's established facts are that Blue House officials delivered misconduct intelligence about Kim Gi-hyeon, former Mayor of Ulsan and Song's main opponent at the time, to the Ulsan Metropolitan Police Agency, thereby influencing the election.

The prosecution believes that these individuals provided internal information from central and local governments to assist Mayor Song in formulating campaign pledges and even pressured primary competitors to withdraw their candidacies.

In January, the prosecution indicted 13 people, including Mayor Song, former Ulsan Deputy Mayor for Economic Affairs Song Byung-ki, former Ulsan Metropolitan Police Agency Chief Hwang Un-ha, former Blue House Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Han Byung-do, former Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs Baek Won-woo, and former Anti-Corruption Secretary Park Hyung-chul.

Former Chief Hwang Un-ha and former Senior Secretary Han Byung-do were elected in the April 15 general election.

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