Candidate Cho Joongyeon Urges Thorough Investigation into Seocheon Government-Led Election Interference Allegations

Call for Suspension of Those Implicated
and Renewal of the Public Sector

Reform New Party candidate Cho Joong-yeon, running for Seocheon County Governor, strongly criticized the major parties’ alleged “government-led election interference” that has recently surfaced in both Seocheon and Jeju, and called for a strict response from investigative agencies.

On May 11, Candidate Cho stated in a commentary, “The election, where fairness is essential, is being tainted by administrative favoritism and collusion in favor of certain candidates. Public officials, who are supposed to uphold election neutrality, have degenerated into ‘election operatives’ orbiting around those in power.”

He went on to say, “It is appalling to hear allegations that key figures in local administration and senior officials, who are central to election management, have arranged policy agreements for specific candidates and held inappropriate meetings. The People Power Party’s attempt to privatize the administrative organization and orchestrate systematic government-led election interference is an affront to the pride of Seocheon residents.”

He also targeted People Power Party candidate Kim Ki-woong, citing several points: ▲The case was forwarded to the prosecution for alleged violations of election laws, such as providing food at a restaurant owned by his spouse; ▲Over half of the annual business promotion expenses were spent in the 100 days immediately prior to the election. He criticized, “The taxpayer money of Seocheon residents is not the county governor’s personal slush fund.”

Candidate Cho stated, “The People Power Party is turning a blind eye to the current governor’s risks. Stop the shameless double standards—condemning the other party’s wrongdoings as an insult to democracy, while insisting that your own candidate’s scandals are normal administration.”

He called for: ▲An immediate and strict response, as well as legal judgment, from investigative agencies; ▲Immediate suspension from duties and a sweeping personnel renewal in the public sector for those implicated; ▲Direct and unambiguous explanations from those involved regarding suspicions of misusing taxpayer funds.

Cho emphasized, “The Reform New Party will break the chains of outdated politics dominated by government authority. We will fight to the end for a fair election culture where only the rights of voters are respected.”