[6.3 Election] Gwangju Election Commission Reports Three Election Law Violations to Investigative Authorities
by Song Bohyeon
Published 15 Apr.2026 10:58(KST)
Unauthorized Sending of 26,000 Campaign Texts and Offering of Congratulatory Money
Inducing False Responses in Primary Detected
The Gwangju Election Commission has detected three cases of violations of the Public Official Election Act ahead of the 9th nationwide local elections and has reported them to investigative authorities. The commission announced that it will intensify its crackdown on illegal activities such as unauthorized mass text messaging, offering congratulatory money, and inducing false responses in intra-party primary opinion polls.
On April 15, the Gwangju Election Commission stated that it had reported individual A to the police for sending a large number of campaign text messages using a preliminary candidate's name without authorization. Individual A is accused of sending approximately 26,000 campaign text messages using a text messaging website in mid-March, without the instruction or consent of preliminary candidate B, to voters and others in the constituency.
Article 253 of the Public Official Election Act stipulates that anyone who transmits messages via telecommunications by displaying a false name or status for the purpose of election or defeat may be sentenced to up to three years in prison or fined up to 6 million won.
Separately, the Dong-gu Election Commission has reported preliminary candidate C to the prosecution for allegedly providing 100,000 won in cash as congratulatory money to a person with ties to voters in the constituency.
In addition, the Gwangju Election Poll Deliberation Committee has reported party member D to the police for allegedly inducing false responses during the intra-party primary process. D is reported to have posted messages in two group KakaoTalk chat rooms (with a total of 357 participants) at the end of March, encouraging false answers regarding party membership status to support a specific candidate's election.
An official from the Gwangju Election Commission stated, "As the election day approaches, we are intensifying the crackdown on illegal activities," adding, "We will respond strictly to any detected election crimes."
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