Police have searched a hospital operated by On Group, an affiliate run by the father of Jung Yi-han, a former Reform Party candidate for Busan mayor who is suspected of staging a fake attack during his 6·3 local election campaign.
The Anti-Corruption and Economic Crime Investigation Unit of the Busan Metropolitan Police Agency said on the 15th that it had searched the On Group affiliate hospital in Busanjin-gu, Busan, and secured business PCs and related documents from the hospital.
Police are examining allegations that employees of On Group affiliates were systematically mobilized for Jung's election campaign. The allegations raised include claims that affiliate employees were made to write comments supporting Jung around the campaign period, or were instructed to join a specific political party.
The case surfaced when the Busan Metropolitan Election Commission, which received a whistleblower report from an On Group official, requested a police investigation in April. Article 85 of the Public Official Election Act prohibits the act of using one's position in the organization of a professional institution or group to have members engage in election campaigning.
Meanwhile, Jung is scheduled to be referred to the prosecution on the 16th on charges including obstruction of official duties by fraudulent means and violation of the Public Official Election Act in connection with the fake attack allegations. Police are also investigating whether the hospital run by Jung's father violated the Medical Service Act, as well as the fairness of a polling agency linked to Jung.
