Hayunsoo, Busan Superintendent of Education, Caught in Pre-Election Campaign Allegations... Office, Residence, and Policy Communication Secretary's Office Raided

Hayunsoo, Superintendent of Education of Busan.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Hwang Du-yeol] The prosecution has launched a forced investigation by seizing and searching the residence, office, and surrounding areas of Ha Yun-su, Superintendent of Busan Metropolitan Office of Education, on suspicion of pre-election campaigning.

The Public International Crime Investigation Division of Busan District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Im Gil-seop) conducted a search on the morning of the 22nd at Ha's office, residence, and the Policy Communication Secretary's office at the Busan Office of Education on suspicion of violating the Local Education Autonomy Act.

The search of the Superintendent's office lasted for more than three hours until 11:30 a.m. that day.

A search was also conducted at Ha's residence, and he did not go to work as usual that day. Ha canceled all scheduled events, including work reports and the opening ceremony of Myeongji Gaon Kindergarten, and decided not to attend the National Association of Metropolitan and Provincial Superintendents of Education meeting held in Daegu in the afternoon.

Ha and others are suspected of founding the "Forum The Power of Education" on June 16 last year and using it as a private organization for the 8th nationwide simultaneous local elections to conduct pre-election campaigning.

The prosecution is known to be investigating after detecting signs that this group was operated like a private organization preparing for Ha's election campaign.

Evidence was found that forum members engaged in promotional activities for Ha on SNS and other platforms even before the local elections.

The prosecution is examining the fact that Ha's election office absorbed and integrated the forum's office and that forum executives were assigned to key positions in the election campaign.

It appears that the prosecution will focus on investigating whether the forum's actual role was election campaigning for Ha's victory rather than carrying out the projects stipulated in its articles of association.

The prosecution also confirmed that searches were conducted at the residences of two related persons, including the former Busan City Council chairman who served as Ha's permanent election committee chairman during the local elections. Additionally, the residences of Ha, former Chairman A, and a certain secretary from the city education office were also searched.

Ha Yun-su was referred to the Eastern Branch of Busan District Prosecutors' Office for violating election laws by falsely listing school names in election publicity materials and posters during the July election this year.

Ha, a graduate of Namhae Comprehensive High School and Busan Polytechnic College, listed "Namhae Jeil High School graduate" and "Kyungsung University graduate" on election publicity materials and posters, reflecting the changed school names after graduation.

According to the provisions related to academic background listing in the Public Official Election Act, candidates must list the school name at the time of graduation, and the election commission's guidebook stipulates that if a changed school name is used, it must be indicated in parentheses.

Following the election commission's decision, a notice correcting the changed school name of Ha's alma mater was posted at the entrance of the polling station on the voting day.

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