Prosecutors Clear Go Min-jeong of Election Law Violations, Defer Indictment for Oh Se-hoon

Candidate Ko Min-jung of the Democratic Party of Korea (left in the photo) and candidate Oh Se-hoon of the United Future Party and his spouse are casting their votes at a polling station in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, on the 15th during the 21st National Assembly election for Gwangjin-gu B district. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] The prosecution has decided not to indict Democratic Party lawmaker Ko Min-jung and former Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon on charges of violating election laws during the April 15 general election when they ran for the Seoul Gwangjin-eul district.

On the 7th, the Criminal Division 6 of the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Kim Nam-hoon) decided not to indict lawmaker Ko, who was reported the previous day for violating the Public Official Election Act, citing 'no charges.'

Lawmaker Ko was reported for distributing campaign materials containing support statements from residents' autonomy committee members to about 80,000 households while campaigning ahead of the general election. Under the current Public Official Election Act, members of residents' autonomy committees are classified as 'persons who are not allowed to engage in election campaigning.'

Former Mayor Oh was reported on charges of providing money or goods to constituents. He is accused of giving a total of 1.2 million won in cash, ranging from 50,000 to 100,000 won at a time, to five individuals including apartment security guards and cleaners where he resides during the Lunar New Year and Chuseok holidays last year and this year, saying "Thank you for your hard work."

Former Mayor Oh received a suspension of indictment at the prosecution on the same day. A suspension of indictment means that although the charges are acknowledged, the prosecutor decides not to bring the suspect to trial considering various circumstances.

Meanwhile, the Gwangjin District Election Commission reported former Mayor Oh to the Eastern District Prosecutors' Office in March, and in April, lawmaker Ko was also referred to the prosecution for investigation.

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