Former and Incumbent Jeonbuk State Governors Referred to Prosecutors for Alleged Election Law Violations

【Financial News, Jeonju = Kang In】 Lee Won-taek, governor of Jeonbuk State, and former governor Kim Gwan-young have been referred to prosecutors on suspicion of violating the Public Official Election Act.
Lee faces an allegation of making a false statement concerning the payment of meal expenses, while Kim faces an allegation involving a third-party contribution.
The Jeonbuk Police Agency’s Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Investigation Unit said on the 17th that it had referred Governor Lee Won-taek to prosecutors on suspicion of publishing false information under the Public Official Election Act.
The case concerns allegations related to a meal held at a restaurant in Jeongeup on November 29, when Lee publicly stated that he had personally paid the meal expenses for himself and his aides at a gathering with a local youth committee.
Police determined that the alleged collusion over the payment of the meal expenses could not be established. However, they took issue with the claim that Lee and his aides had paid for the meal themselves. Police found no evidence that they had personally paid the expenses and concluded, based on multiple statements, that the claim was false.
Police also decided not to refer to prosecutors the allegation that Lee had published false information concerning claims of aiding an insurrection that had been raised against former Governor Kim Gwan-young during the local election campaign.
Separately, an investigation is continuing into allegations that Lee paid the meal expenses at a gathering with an artists’ association last November.
Part of the case involving former Governor Kim Gwan-young was also referred to prosecutors.
Kim is suspected of meeting young people at a restaurant in Jeonju around November last year and providing a total of 1.08 million won to 18 attendees in the name of designated-driver fees.
Police determined that the act constituted a contribution by a candidate and referred the case to prosecutors for an alleged violation of the Public Official Election Act. Police said Kim’s claim that he received the designated-driver fees back the following day amounted only to a subsequent circumstance.
Police also decided not to refer to prosecutors the allegation that Kim attempted to make a deal with the restaurant owner to delete CCTV footage showing the payment of the designated-driver fees, as they could not confirm his involvement.
An investigation is ongoing into the allegation that Kim made a false statement on a broadcast when he said of his independent candidacy, “I had consulted with the president.”
A police official said, “Although part of the police investigation has concluded, the prosecutorial stage remains, so the cases are still under investigation until an indictment is issued. There are still matters that have not been resolved, so we cannot explain the specific details.”
As a result, of the four police investigations involving Governor Lee Won-taek, one case has been referred to prosecutors, two have not been referred, and one remains under investigation. Of the three police investigations involving former Governor Kim Gwan-young, one case has been referred, one has not been referred, and one remains under investigation.


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