Ulsan Mayor Song Cheol-ho: "Investigation and trial on election interference are novels written by political prosecutors"

On the 10th, Song Cheol-ho, Mayor of Ulsan, is attending the trial regarding the Blue House's alleged interference in the Ulsan mayoral election, held at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] Song Cheol-ho, mayor of Ulsan, strongly criticized the trial he is facing on charges of election interference as a "novel-like investigation and indictment carried out based on political intentions by a small number of political prosecutors."

Mayor Song made these remarks on the 30th at a '3rd Anniversary Press Conference of the 7th Elected Term' held at Ulsan City Hall. In response to a question stating, "Although you declared your intention to run for re-election, there are many unfavorable conditions such as being on trial, approval ratings, and old age," he said, "They gathered a lot of unproven materials rather than direct evidence and brought them to trial, but this is not enough to influence the election, and I don't think I need to be discouraged."

He also said, "My age or the fact that my wife is currently ill does not pose any problem or obstacle to the dream I am pursuing for Ulsan," adding, "The currently somewhat low approval rating reflects the fact that Ulsan is more affected by the economic recession than other regions, so there is no need to be disappointed by the current temperature, and it can be fully recovered in the remaining one year."

Mayor Song is being prosecuted along with former Deputy Mayor Song Byung-gi, Lee Jin-seok, head of the Blue House National Situation Room, and former Senior Secretary Han Byung-do on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act, and is on trial at the Seoul Central District Court.

The prosecution believes that Blue House officials illegally provided internal information from central and local governments to help Mayor Song's election ahead of the 2018 local elections, enabling the establishment of election pledges. Meanwhile, they suspect that instructions were given to the Ulsan Police Agency to conduct a directed investigation to undermine then-Mayor Kim Ki-hyun of Ulsan.

The trial has been repeatedly delayed. At the trial on the 14th, Mayor Song's defense attorney requested the court, saying, "If new facts are revealed through witness examination, documentary evidence may also change," and asked, "Please conduct the witness examination before the documentary evidence investigation for the progress of the trial." They requested to change the order of the trial proceedings. The prosecution opposed this.

The court decided to hold two preparatory hearings before the next trial to organize the insufficient evidence opinions of some defendants.

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