Gwangju Gwangsan-gu Mayor Candidate Park Byung-kyu Accused of 'Bribery'

Audio Recording of 300,000 Won Delivered to One Party Member... Evidence of Other Bribery

Candidate Park's Camp: "Baseless... Seen as an Attempt to Undermine Primary Winner"

Residents Express Concerns Similar to Kim Samho Candidate's Electio

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Jin-hyung] Park Byung-gyu, the preliminary candidate confirmed for the Democratic Party of Korea’s nomination for Gwangsan District Mayor in Gwangju Metropolitan City, is causing a stir after being accused of giving money along with a recorded conversation and even facing a police complaint.

Following allegations of illegal opinion poll collusion, Kia Motors employment fraud defamation, Park is now embroiled in controversy after being reported to the police for donation activities (money distribution), making it unlikely that the issue will easily subside.

According to the Democratic Party of Korea on the 6th, a ‘Public Official Election Act Violation Report’ against Park was recently submitted to the Ethics Inspection Team, and on the same day, a police complaint was also filed.

The complaint states that Park handed 300,000 won in an envelope to Kim, a Gwangsan District party member, with specific details regarding the time, place, and method reportedly included.

The submitted recording is also said to contain evidence of another instance of money exchange.

If these allegations are true, they constitute a violation of Article 113 of the Public Official Election Act, ‘Restrictions on Donations by Candidates, etc.’ This crime carries a penalty of up to five years imprisonment or a fine of up to 10 million won.

Furthermore, it falls under ‘money exchange,’ the first of the five major election crimes to which the National Police Agency has decided to apply a ‘zero tolerance policy.’

The problem is that similar issues have occurred in Gwangsan District in the past.

Four years ago, during the local elections, Kim Sam-ho, a preliminary candidate for Gwangsan District Mayor, was cut off from the race due to a Public Official Election Act violation complaint, but the central party accepted his objection, allowing him to re-enter the primary and secure the nomination.

He faced trial throughout his term after being elected and was eventually sentenced by the Supreme Court to invalidate his election for the same charges that led to his initial cut-off, sparking controversy over the Democratic Party’s nomination system loopholes.

A Democratic Party member said, “If the district mayor continues to face trial from the 7th to the 8th term and if another invalidation of election occurs, the party’s credibility will hit rock bottom,” adding, “If the party insists on problematic candidates again, the citizens of Gwangju and Gwangsan District will be the first to turn their backs on the Democratic Party.”

In response, a representative from Park Byung-gyu’s campaign office stated, “We checked with the Ethics Inspection Team, and the claim that 300,000 won was handed to Kim is groundless,” explaining, “It seems to be an attempt to shake candidate Park, who won the primary.”

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