Police Summon Aide for Investigation into Allegations of Vote-Buying by Lawmaker Jin Seong-jun's Party Members

Former Seoul Gangseo-gu Mayor Candidate Kim Seung-hyun as Defendant

Seoul Gangseo Police Station

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] The police investigating allegations of vote-buying by Jin Seong-jun, a member of the Democratic Party representing Gangseo Eul, Seoul, summoned Kim Seung-hyun, former candidate for mayor of Gangseo District, Seoul, for questioning.

On the 22nd, the Gangseo Police Station in Seoul announced that they had summoned Kim Seung-hyun’s aide as a suspect on the previous day for investigation on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act (vote-buying) and the Personal Information Protection Act.

Kim, a former aide to Representative Jin, ran as the Democratic Party’s candidate for mayor of Gangseo District in the June 1 local elections but lost and then returned to his position as an aide.

The allegations of vote-buying by Representative Jin were raised at a press conference held on the 4th at the National Assembly, titled 'Whistleblowing on Illegal Activities of the Democratic Party Gangseo Eul Regional Committee,' arranged by Assemblywoman Cho Su-jin of the People Power Party.

At the press conference, Yoon Doo-kwon, vice chairman of the Democratic Party’s Gangseo Eul committee, claimed, "The Democratic Party, which governs Gangseo District, illegally recruited party members using cash and illegally leaked the list of registered party members."

Assemblywoman Cho also revealed on the 10th, "Sponsor Mr. Cho gave 40 million won to Vice Chairman Yoon Doo-kwon, who then handed out 3 million won each to various mid-level organizers. They in turn distributed about 300,000 won each to lower-level recruiters as compensation for recruiting registered party members."

In response, Representative Jin denied ever recruiting party members in exchange for money. He explained, "The Gangseo Eul regional committee has never used any money or other illegal means in recruiting registered party members."

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