Lee Seung-ok, Gangjin County Mayor, and 8 Others Sent to Prosecution for Alleged Lunar New Year Gift Distribution

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Chunsu] Ahead of the Seollal holiday, Lee Seung-ok, the mayor of Gangjin County, Jeonnam, and eight current and former public officials were sent to the prosecution on charges of distributing gifts to local residents.

The Anti-Corruption Economic Crime Investigation Unit 1 of the Jeonnam Police Agency recently announced on the 17th that they had sent Mayor Lee Seung-ok and eight related individuals to the prosecution without detention on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act.

Earlier, the Gwangju District Court Jangheung Branch dismissed the arrest warrant for Mayor Lee, citing no flight risk and the need to guarantee the right to defense.

Mayor Lee is accused of distributing apple boxes worth approximately 35 million won as gifts to about 800 people, including village chiefs, Saemaeul leaders, and women's association heads in the district ahead of last year's Seollal holiday.

The individuals sent to the prosecution along with Mayor Lee are current and former public officials who reportedly used official vehicles to deliver the apple boxes.

Additionally, some urged the recipients of the gifts to "make a thank-you call to the mayor," and it was revealed that a significant number actually made such calls.

Twenty-one people who assisted him are currently under investigation, and eleven current and former public officials have been registered as suspects.

The purchase of the gifts was made using local gift certificates.

The police are known to have confirmed a substantial part of the election law violation charges through multiple witness interviews of related parties, searches of the mayor's office and residence, and summons investigations of Mayor Lee and his wife.

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