[Exclusive] Democratic Party Candidate Seo Seungpil for Nonsan City Council Suspected of Spreading False Information: "No Supplementary Budget Due to Lack of Funds"

Democratic Candidate Seop Seungpil Claimed No Supplementary Budget

But Nonsan City Passed Two Supplementary Budgets Last Year

Suspicions of violating the Public Official Election Act have been raised regarding a statement made during the campaign by the Democratic Party candidate for Nonsan City Council in South Chungcheong Province, who is running in the June 3 local elections.

According to coverage by The Asia Business Daily on May 22, Seo Seungpil, the Democratic Party candidate for Nonsan City Council, stated at the candidates' kickoff rally held at the Baekje Hospital intersection on the 21st, "Nonsan City could not carry out a supplementary budget last year due to a lack of funds. The same is true this year."

During his campaign speech from the vehicle, Seo said, "Was Nonsan City in good shape over the past four years or not?" and argued, "If we have no money, we cannot get anything done."

He continued, "Now, even if we want to get something done, we cannot because there is no budget," emphasizing, "If candidate Oh Inhwan, who has strong influence, is elected, he will join hands with President Lee Jaemyung and Supreme Council member Hwang Myungseon to make Nonsan the best city."

Democratic Party candidate Seo Seungpil, running for Nonsan City Council, made a statement at the Democratic Party candidates' kickoff event in the Nonsan area on the 21st, saying, "Nonsan City could not carry out the supplementary budget last year due to a lack of budget," raising suspicions of false information disclosure.
Screenshot from Seo's campaign video

However, it has been confirmed that Nonsan City actually formulated and passed two supplementary budgets last year.

The Nonsan City Council approved a supplementary budget of approximately 111.7 billion won at the 264th regular session held from June 16 to 30 last year, and another supplementary budget of about 71.6 billion won at the 268th regular session held from November 24 to December 19.

This has led to criticism that Seo, an incumbent Nonsan City Council member, may have disclosed information during his criticism of People Power Party candidate Baek Seonghyeon’s administration and financial management during the 8th popularly elected term that does not reflect the actual facts.

In a phone interview with The Asia Business Daily, Seo explained, "I meant that we could not carry out a proper supplementary budget last year due to a lack of funds."

An official from the South Chungcheong Provincial Election Commission told The Asia Business Daily, "Seo's remarks may constitute a violation of the Public Official Election Act regarding the dissemination of false information."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.