Police reject charges of bribery of Jeonbuk Superintendent of Education Cheon Ho-seong and former preliminary candidate Yuseong-dong

(Jeonju = Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Moon-kyung = Jeonbuk Jeonju Wansan Police Station announced on the 28th that it had despatched Jeonbuk Superintendent of Education Cheon Ho-seong and former preliminary candidate Yuseong-dong, who were investigated on charges of promising and unifying positions during the June 3 local elections (bribing and inducing understanding of candidates under the Public Official Election Act).

Superintendent Cheon was accused of 'buying a candidate' by promising former preliminary candidate Yoo, who was the unification opponent during his time as a preliminary candidate, a key position in the Office of Education after being elected.

Previously, in May, Mr. A, an official of former preliminary candidate Yoo's election committee, revealed a recording of a phone call with Candidate Yoo containing related information, saying, "Candidate Yoo made a phone call to the effect that he had been promised a position higher than the policy director of the (Jeonbuk Office of Education) ahead of Candidate Cheon's declaration of support."

The recording contains former preliminary candidate Yoo saying to Mr. A, "If you say you are going to Cheon Ho-seong, please understand that 'you are going on good terms. At least the policy director is going with a promise.'"

When the recording was released, former candidate Yoo explained, "There was no political deal or promise of compensation during the unification process with Candidate Cheon."

The police, who analyzed the transcript and the statements of those involved, determined that it was difficult to prove that there was an act of buying a candidate.

A police official explained, "The major position that was controversial was not actually given to former candidate Yoo. Also, considering that there is a statement at the end of the transcript that the position was not confirmed, it is difficult to say that there was an agreement in exchange for unification."

He added, "After consulting with the prosecution, we found that there were no charges and recently sent Superintendent Chun and former prospective candidate Yoo."