The Plot Backfires: 'Mokpo Mayor's Turbulent Election' Case Overturned

On the 20th, the wife of the Mokpo mayoral candidate held a press conference to explain the situation. Photo by Seunghyun Jeong

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[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Jeong Seunghyun] Ahead of the June 1 local elections, Mr. A, who continuously demanded and received money from the wife of the Mokpo mayoral candidate and then reported it to the Jeonnam Election Commission, has been sent to the prosecution.

At around 9:40 a.m. on the 20th, the wife of the Mokpo mayoral candidate held an emergency press conference in front of the Mokpo Prosecutor's Office to explain the progress of the election law violation accusation against Mr. A.

Legal representative Lee Sangryeol, representing the wife, stated, “If the crime of inducing election invalidation is recognized, the spouse of the Mokpo mayor is effectively a victim and unrelated to the election invalidation,” and emphasized, “Those who commit the crime of inducing election invalidation are subject to imprisonment from one year to ten years.”

Furthermore, Representative Lee argued, “This case is a criminal act carried out at the level of a conspiracy, which is rarely seen in the history of public elections, greatly damaging the pride and honor of the citizens of Mokpo,” and added, “A thorough investigation into the behind-the-scenes forces must be conducted so that such crimes never recur in our region.”

Earlier, on the 19th, the Jeonnam Mokpo Police Station applied for an arrest warrant for Mr. A on charges of inducing the provision of money to defeat the opposing candidate (crime of inducing election invalidation, etc.).

Mr. A is suspected of deliberately receiving 1 million won in cash from Mr. B, a close aide of the wife of the Mokpo mayoral candidate, on the roadside in Yeonsan-dong, Mokpo City, at around 8:10 p.m. on November 21 last year.

He is also suspected of receiving 15 boxes of shrimp in a parking lot of an apartment in Yeonsan-dong around noon on November 23 last year, then reporting it to the Election Commission 2 to 3 days later and receiving part of the reward money.

The police believe Mr. A intentionally approached Mr. B, the wife’s aide.

At that time, Mr. A repeatedly demanded money from Mr. B under the pretext of election campaigning, and when Mr. B refused, Mr. A reportedly even mentioned family discord.

Additionally, Mr. A specified the time and place to receive the money and even mentioned the exact location where the items were placed for photographing.

The police identified that one of the three vehicles presumed to have been mobilized around the place where the money was delivered was a rental car, found the registered owner of the vehicle, and secured detailed testimony.

A police official said, “We applied for an arrest warrant to ascertain the exact facts,” and added, “It is suspected that Mr. A was instructed by higher-ups to extort money, and further investigation is underway.”

Meanwhile, based on Mr. A’s report on December 22 last year, the Jeonnam Election Commission filed a complaint with the prosecution against Mr. B and three aides on charges of providing election campaign compensation and donation acts under the Public Official Election Act.

The Jeonnam Election Commission also decided on a reward of 13 million won for Mr. A, who reported the case, paid 6.5 million won of it, and plans to pay the remaining reward depending on the investigation results.

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