Head of National Police Agency "Investigated 542 Presidential Election Offenders, Referred 16"

Nam Gu-jun, Chief of the National Investigation Headquarters, National Police Agency / Photo by Jin-hyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] Nam Gu-jun, head of the National Investigation Headquarters of the National Police Agency, announced on the 21st regarding the investigation status of election-related criminal cases for the presidential election, "So far, 542 people have been investigated, and among them, 16 have been sent to prosecution." Earlier, the police had launched a focused crackdown on election-related crimes starting from the 15th, when the presidential election campaign began.

At a press briefing on the morning of the same day, Director Nam stated, "We will investigate with a fair and neutral stance." According to the police, during this crackdown period, the most common type of election crime detected was spreading false information, accounting for about 420 people, or 77.5% of the total cases. Damage to posters and banners accounted for 39 people, or 7.2%.

Regarding the upcoming June local elections, Director Nam said, "A total of 107 cases involving 213 people have been investigated, and 48 people have been sent to prosecution." He explained that the local elections differ in nature from the presidential election, with bribery being the most frequent type of case. He added, "Although the exact ratio has not yet been determined, about 107 people were caught for bribery."

Regarding the investigation into the accident involving Ahn Cheol-soo, the presidential candidate of the People’s Party, Director Nam said, "The investigation is being conducted in cooperation with the Chungnam Police Agency and the Gangwon Police Agency," and emphasized, "An autopsy was conducted to determine the exact cause of death, and the election vehicle manufacturing company was raided. We are conducting a swift and strict investigation."

On the afternoon of the 15th, in Dongnam-gu, Cheonan City, Chungnam Province, the driver and the People’s Party’s local campaign committee chairman for Nonsan, Gyeryong, and Geumsan regions were found unconscious inside Ahn’s campaign bus, which was parked on a road, and were transported to the hospital but eventually passed away. Earlier that day, at around 4:43 p.m., the driver Kim of Ahn’s campaign bus was found unconscious at the intersection in Pyeongwon-dong, Wonju City. Kim was transported to the hospital and is undergoing treatment but has not yet regained consciousness.

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