'Violation of Public Official Election Act'... Police Conduct Search and Seizure at Choi Yong-deok's Dongducheon Mayor's Office

Published 29 Sep.2021 19:21(KST)

Updated 29 Sep.2021 19:27(KST)

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Mayor Choi Suspected of Urging Employees to Join the Democratic Party

'Violation of Public Official Election Act'... Police Conduct Search and Seizure at Choi Yong-deok's Dongducheon Mayor's Office

[Asia Economy Reporter Ra Young-cheol] The police conducted a search and seizure of the office of Choi Yong-deok, mayor of Dongducheon City, Gyeonggi Province, who is suspected of urging employees to join a political party.

The Anti-Corruption Crime Investigation Unit of the Northern Gyeonggi Police Agency carried out the search and seizure for about four hours starting at 4 a.m. on the 29th, sending investigators to the Dongducheon mayor's office, Dongducheon Welfare Center for the Disabled, and Dongducheon Senior Welfare Center.

Mayor Choi, affiliated with the Democratic Party of Korea, has been under suspicion since a local media report in April alleged that he encouraged welfare facility employees to fill out membership applications for the Democratic Party.

The police have initiated a compulsory investigation against Mayor Choi on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act ahead of next year's local elections. It is reported that Mayor Choi denies the allegations.