Prosecutors Detain Two Close Associates of Lawmaker Lee Sang-jik on Charges of Violating Public Official Election Act

Lee Sang-jik, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, attending the National Assembly audit in October last year when he was serving as the President of the Small and Medium Business Corporation, responding to questions. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin] Close aides of Lee Sang-jik, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, who sent text messages urging party members to vote during the party primary process in the last general election, have been arrested on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act.

The court issued arrest warrants for two of the three aides for whom the prosecution requested arrest warrants, while dismissing the warrant for one.

According to the legal community on the 22nd, Choi Hyung-cheol, the judge in charge of warrants at Jeonju District Court who conducted the warrant hearings the previous day, issued arrest warrants for two individuals, including A from Lee’s election campaign, citing "concerns of evidence destruction and flight risk."

However, Judge Choi dismissed the arrest warrant for the remaining individual, stating, "He generally acknowledges the objective facts related to his actions, and even if acknowledged, it appears to be mere simple involvement. Also, he has sincerely responded to summons from investigative authorities and undergone investigation, and considering his stable residence, occupation, and family relations, it is difficult to see a flight risk," thereby rejecting the prosecution’s request for an arrest warrant.

A and others are accused of sending a large volume of text messages during the party primary process in the last general election, seemingly encouraging duplicate voting among general and rights-holding party members.

Under the Public Official Election Act, only preliminary candidates and candidates are allowed to send mass text messages using programs during the election period.

Earlier, the prosecution detected these allegations and conducted a search and seizure of Lee’s election campaign office immediately after the general election to secure evidence.

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