South Chungcheong Election Commission Reports Two for Cash Payments in Cooperative Association Head Election

The South Chungcheong Provincial Election Commission announced on the 14th that it has reported two individuals, including a person identified as A, to the local police on suspicion of violating the Act on Entrusted Elections of Public Organizations (hereinafter referred to as the "Entrusted Election Act") in connection with a recently held cooperative association head election.

According to the election commission, A, who is an associate of a candidate, was found to have engaged in electioneering during the cooperative association head election campaign period around April 27, despite being ineligible to participate in election campaigns. A reportedly visited the homes of about 10 cooperative members or contacted them by phone to campaign.

In particular, A is accused of providing a total of 800,000 won in cash, giving 200,000 won each to four cooperative members while soliciting their support for the candidate.

The candidate, identified as B, is accused of providing A with a list of cooperative members, thereby enabling A to conduct illegal electioneering.

Current Articles 24 and 58 of the "Entrusted Election Act" prohibit anyone other than candidates or other legally permitted persons from engaging in door-to-door electioneering or similar activities in cooperative association head elections, and also ban the provision of money or valuables.

An official from the election commission stated, "Illegal electioneering and vote-buying with money in cooperative association head elections, where the number of voters is small, can have a significant impact on the election outcome and constitute a serious violation that severely undermines the fairness of the election," adding, "We will continue to respond strictly to such acts in the future."

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