The investigation division of the Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency has identified 292 election offenders related to the 9th nationwide local elections and is investigating 219 of them.
According to police on the 4th, the agency cracked down on these election offenders from February 3, the registration date for preliminary candidates, through the 3rd of this month. It forwarded 39 people to prosecutors without detention on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act, while 34 were not forwarded or had cases closed after pre-booking investigations.
By type of crime, smear campaigns such as spreading false information and fake news were the most common at 94 people (32.2%). Of these, online smear campaigns through social networking services (SNS) totaled 43 people. Following smear campaigns, the receipt of money and goods accounted for 68 people (23.3%), followed by public official involvement in elections at 17 people (5.8%), distribution of printed materials at 17 people (5.8%), damage to banners and posters at 15 people (5.1%), and pre-election campaigning at 11 people (3.8%).
Investigations were primarily initiated through complaints and accusations (158 people, 54.1%), while a considerable number also stemmed from reports and petitions (57 people, 19.5%) or accusations and investigation requests from election commissions (47 people, 16.1%).
The major cases of suspected Public Official Election Act violations currently under investigation at the Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency include the "AI fake video and official election interference" allegations that emerged in the final stretch of the Gyeongnam governor election. Police are investigating five smear campaign charges involving nine people, including campaign officials of Park Wan-su, the People Power Party governor-elect of Gyeongnam, and former and current officials of the Gyeongnam Provincial Government.
Police are also investigating Kang Seok-ju, the Democratic Party mayor-elect of Tongyeong, and Cheon Yeong-gi, the People Power Party Tongyeong mayoral candidate, who filed complaints and accusations against each other during the election on charges of spreading false information and violating the Public Official Election Act amid negative campaigning.
Police are also reportedly investigating "allegations involving city hall officials and money" related to Cho Gyu-il, the mayor-elect of Jinju.
Since the statute of limitations for election crimes is a short six months, the Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency will operate an "intensive election case investigation period" through October 2.
