The Gyeongsangnam-do Election Commission uncovered three violations of the Public Official Election Act and the Political Funds Act related to the 9th nationwide local elections and referred six people to prosecutors and police.
According to the commission, A, the campaign manager for a prospective municipal council candidate, was referred to prosecutors on charges that he provided food worth ₩1,200,000 (approximately $900) to four constituents between March and April and recorded the expense as the candidate’s political funds.
It also referred four executives, including the president of a specific organization, to police on charges that between December and April they used their official positions to mobilize members to campaign in an internal party primary for incumbent local government chief A, and posted declarations of support in the organization’s name on social media without internal approval.
The commission referred incumbent municipal councilor A to prosecutors on charges that he attended a district social association meeting in January and provided a monetary contribution.
The Public Official Election Act prohibits illicit donations by candidates and campaign managers and bans primary campaigning outside legal channels; violations can result in imprisonment or fines. The Political Funds Act likewise forbids using political funds for purposes other than political activities.
The commission warned that as election day approaches the risk of serious election crimes—such as offering money or gifts—increases, and said it will enforce the law strictly with a zero-tolerance policy to ensure fair and clean elections.
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