"Election Aide?" Seocheon County Officials Suspected of Government-Led Election Interference

Democratic Party Preliminary Candidates Demand Suspension of Officials and Special Audit

With the June 3 local elections approaching, there have been calls to suspend officials in the Seocheon County Office’s election management department in Chungnam Province from their duties, following suspicions of "government-led election interference."

Democratic Party preliminary candidates for Seocheon County held a press conference in front of Seocheon County Office on the 11th, demanding personnel action against government officials suspected of election manipulation and an audit by Chungnam Province. Photo by Lee Byeongryeol

On May 11, Yoo Seung-gwang, a Democratic Party preliminary candidate for Seocheon County Governor, along with preliminary candidates for Chungnam Provincial Council and Seocheon County Council, held a press conference in front of the Seocheon County Office, claiming, "Team leader A of the county’s Autonomy Administration Division is acting as an 'election aide' for a specific candidate."

They also raised suspicions of government interference in the election, stating that "Director B had an inappropriate meeting with Kim Kiwoong, a preliminary candidate from the People Power Party."

The Democratic Party preliminary candidates criticized, "It is shocking that those responsible for safeguarding fair elections are now at the center of these allegations," and questioned, "Is this simply work-related cooperation, or the beginning of organized government-led election interference?"

Previously, on May 7, Team leader A was suspected of arranging a policy agreement between the irregular workers’ union and Kim, the People Power Party preliminary candidate.

There are also suspicions that Team leader A may have abused their position as the head of the irregular workers’ management division to exert undue influence over the election.

The Democratic Party preliminary candidates emphasized, "Until the full truth of this matter is clearly revealed, we will fight to the end without being swayed by political interests."

They called on Yoo Jae-young, the Deputy Governor and acting County Governor, to initiate an audit by Chungnam Province and take personnel measures regarding the officials involved.

They stated, "An internal county audit cannot go beyond a self-protective investigation," and urged, "Deputy Governor Yoo should present his position and measures to prevent recurrence before the county residents, with a genuine sense of responsibility and apology."

In addition, they officially demanded six actions: ▲ immediate personnel action (removal from duty) for the officials under suspicion ▲ a special audit by the Chungnam Provincial Audit Committee ▲ a proactive investigation to prevent government- or money-driven election interference ▲ a responsible explanation from the Kim Kiwoong People Power Party preliminary candidate’s camp, among others.

The Seocheon County Election Commission has launched an investigation into Team leader A, who is suspected of arranging the policy agreement between Kim, the preliminary candidate, and the irregular workers’ union.

An official from the Election Commission stated, "We plan to summon the parties involved for questioning."

Acting County Governor Yoo commented, "As the statements from the irregular workers’ union and Team leader A differ, we will take action according to the results of the Election Commission’s investigation."

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