Prosecutors Investigate 1,003 Election Offenders in 8th Local Elections... 878 Under Investigation

Investigation of 51 Elected Officials Including Metropolitan Governors, Education Superintendents, Basic Local Government Heads, and National Assembly By-election Winners
'Public Opinion Manipulation' Most Frequent Election Crime... Followed by Bribery and Government Employee Election Interference

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Kyung-jun] The prosecution has booked 1,003 individuals related to election crimes in the 8th nationwide simultaneous local elections and is investigating 878 people. The number of people booked in this election decreased by 52.5%, and the number of arrests decreased by 52.9% compared to the previous local elections.

The Public Investigation Department of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office announced on the 2nd that as of midnight on the 1st, 1,003 individuals related to local election crimes have been booked and 878 are under investigation. Regarding the by-election for the National Assembly, 41 suspects have been booked and are under investigation.

The prosecution explained that compared to the 7th local elections, cash-for-votes cases increased from 18.2% to 32%, and complaints filed by the Election Commission and political parties rose from 34.2% to 46.9%. Among the elected officials under investigation are 3 metropolitan governors, 6 superintendents of education, and 39 heads of basic local governments. Regarding election crimes related to the National Assembly by-election held simultaneously with the local elections, 41 suspects, including 3 elected officials, have been booked and are under investigation.

The number of cases in this local election decreased by 52.5% compared to previous elections. The prosecution attributes this to the presidential election being held 84 days before the local elections, which relatively lowered interest in the local elections and reduced voter turnout; the fact that the 'police self-booked election crime statistics' were not reflected as before; and the relaxation of election-related regulations, such as the constant allowance of election campaigning through 'direct phone calls and speech,' among other factors.

By type of crime, 339 cases of false information dissemination and other public opinion manipulation crimes accounted for the highest number, followed by 321 cases of bribery. There were 38 cases of public official election interference and 19 cases of election violence.

The prosecution plans to focus on swift investigation and processing by cooperating closely with police stations through frequent sharing of investigation progress and exchanging opinions, ensuring that important election cases handled by the police are transferred or not transferred before the statute of limitations expires, so that there is sufficient time for prosecution investigation and indictment.

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