TBS '#1Hapsida' Campaign Violates Public Official Election Act... Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office Assigned Complaint Case

Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] The Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office has been assigned and started an investigation into the case where a civic group accused Lee Kang-taek, CEO of TBS, and others involved of violating the Public Official Election Act through TBS's '#1Hapsida' campaign.

According to the Association of Judicial Exam Preparers (Sajunmo), on the 11th, the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office assigned the case reported by the group to the Criminal Division 5 (Chief Prosecutor Choi Myung-gyu).

On the 5th, Sajunmo submitted a complaint to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office requesting punishment for CEO Lee, the campaign producers, and the publicity officers on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act, stating that "the '#1Hapsida' campaign, which could be mistaken for the Democratic Party's election number 1 ahead of the Seoul and Busan mayoral by-elections, was produced and promoted by TBS." The Supreme Prosecutors' Office transferred the case to the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office on the 8th, and the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office assigned the case to Criminal Division 5 and began the investigation on the same day.

Since November last year, TBS has been conducting the '#1Hapsida' campaign aiming to reach 1 million YouTube subscribers, featuring program hosts such as Kim Eo-jun, Joo Jin-woo, and Kim Gyu-ri. However, as the opposition raised issues of political bias and the controversy grew, the campaign was suspended on the 4th. The National Election Commission judged on the 8th that although the campaign could cause misunderstanding, it did not constitute a preliminary election campaign.

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