Public Prosecutors' Office requests warrants for two trusted associates of North Chungcheong Province governor on suspicion of illegal election campaign

Hiring human resources and paying 37 million won in text messaging and labor costs during the primary period

(Cheongju = Yonhap News) Reporter Seongmin Lee = On the 30th, the Cheongju Regional Public Prosecution Office requested arrest warrants for two people, including Governor Shin's close associate Mr.

Mr. A and others are suspected of opening a mobile phone in the name of about 10 people involved in the election campaign during the Democratic Party of Korea's North Chungcheong governorship primary in March and then sending text messages to party members appealing for support.

They hired about 10 text message workers to send tens of thousands of election promotional text messages to mobile phones under borrowed names, and it was found that Mr. A, who runs a business, paid 37 million won in labor costs.

Under the Public Official Election Act, only candidates and prospective candidates can conduct election campaigns by sending text messages to multiple people at the same time, and only one mobile phone notified to the National Election Commission must be used. Providing benefits in return for sending text messages for the purpose of influencing elections is also prohibited.

The police believe that Governor Shin ordered Mr. A and others to commit this crime, and they plan to send Governor Shin without detention as an accomplice on the same charges.

Governor Shin is said to have denied the charges, saying, “Mr. A and others did it on their own.”