The Busan Metropolitan Election Commission on Tuesday referred to police a case involving allegations that Han Dong-hoon, an independent candidate in the Busan Buk-gap by-election, operated a quasi-campaign office (a volunteer rest center), in order to determine whether the Public Official Election Act was violated.
"We requested that the Busan Metropolitan Police Agency investigate whether an institution similar to a campaign office was established and operated for a specific candidate," an official with the Busan election commission said that day.
At the center of the allegations is a volunteer rest center for Han's supporters located in Deokcheon-dong, Buk-gu, Busan. The Busan chapter of the Democratic Party of Korea claimed in a statement on the 25th that "(the location) is effectively being operated like a campaign office." Earlier, the Busan election commission received a related tip and conducted an on-site investigation to verify whether the Public Official Election Act was violated.
Article 89 of the Public Official Election Act stipulates that a candidate in a National Assembly by-election may establish only one campaign office. Candidates cannot set up similar facilities beyond the legally designated campaign office.
Han's camp dismissed the allegations of operating a quasi-office, saying, "It appears the case was referred to police because the election commission did not find any wrongdoing," and "We are not involved in and have no knowledge of the volunteers' activities."
The Democratic Party has continuously raised concerns regarding the allegations against Han. Cho Seung-rae, the Democratic Party's secretary general, urged at a press conference on the 25th, "We hope the election commission will swiftly investigate and judge the illegal campaigning through the establishment of a quasi-office and refer the case to investigative authorities."
Ha Jung-woo, the Democratic Party's candidate in the Busan Buk-gap by-election, also sharpened his criticism over the allegations. At a debate the previous day, Ha said, "Outsiders with no voting rights are gathering in groups and inconveniencing residents," adding, "Some say it is 'like a fly-by-night operation that mobilizes outside agitators, causes only harm, and leaves.'" In response, Han countered, "It looks petty for a politician of the ruling party to tell an independent candidate, 'I have no supporters, so you should not come either,'" adding, "If you turn Buk-gu into an island by driving out outsiders, there will be no future (for the region)."
