Hyungduk Park Urges Inkyu Lee to Resign Over Alleged False and Understated Asset Declarations

Hyungduk Park Holds Press Conference, Raises Allegations of Underreported Assets
Fierce Battle Over 'Asset and Money Scandal' Erupts in Final Stage of Dongducheon Mayoral Race
Park Cites "Difference of 246 Million Won"... Lee Responds "Difference Due to Inclusion of Family Assets"

The final stretch of the Dongducheon mayoral election in Gyeonggi Province has become a battleground over allegations of omitted or understated asset declarations and suspicions of providing money, leading to fierce clashes. As Hyungduk Park, the candidate from the People Power Party, called for his opponent, Inkyu Lee of the Democratic Party of Korea, to withdraw from the race, Lee’s camp strongly refuted the accusations as “distortions of the facts.”

Hyungduck Park is holding a press conference in the press room at Dongducheon City Hall on the 26th. Photo by Jonggu Lee

On the morning of May 26, Hyungduk Park held a press conference in the press room at Dongducheon City Hall and stated, “There are suspicions that Candidate Lee submitted false or understated information about his assets in the candidate asset declaration process, thereby publishing false information in election materials. This is a serious matter that could mislead voters’ judgment.”

Park’s camp pointed out that while Lee’s total assets as declared in March of this year as a Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly member amounted to 596.4 million won, the figure submitted during the registration process for the current Dongducheon mayoral race was 349.7 million won—a difference of approximately 246.7 million won.

They further claimed, “Despite both the public official’s asset declaration and the candidate’s asset declaration being based on December 31, 2025, the total amount reported decreased by about 41%. There is evidence that certain real estate, vehicles, deposits, and virtual assets were either omitted or listed differently.”

Park also referenced Lee’s asset declaration during the 2022 Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly election, stating, “The candidate information disclosure materials at that time listed 95.61 million won, but six months after being elected, the public official asset declaration rose to 507.1 million won. Citizens find it difficult to understand why the scale of assets changes so dramatically with each election.”

Park’s team stated that they submitted an objection regarding this matter to the Dongducheon City Election Commission on May 24.

During the press conference, additional allegations were raised regarding a member of Lee’s campaign staff attempting to provide money.

Hyungduk Park, a candidate, is holding a press conference on the 26th at the press room of Dongducheon City Hall. Photo by Jonggu Lee

Park said, “It is my understanding that police are currently investigating after finding that a key member of Lee’s campaign tried to hand money to a journalist who was covering the party’s nomination controversy. On April 30, at a cafe in Sangpae-dong, an envelope was handed over, and, according to what I know, CCTV footage shows the journalist refusing it.”

He added, “For such an incident to occur outside of the official campaign period is an outdated political practice disconnected from the demands of our times. The police must investigate swiftly and rigorously.”

National Assembly member Sungwon Kim, who attended the press conference, also stressed, “Underreporting assets is an issue that clouds voters’ moral judgment. Given that there have been cases where false asset declarations have led to election invalidations, the election commission must make a prompt decision.”

On the other hand, candidate Inkyu Lee completely denied the allegations during a candidate debate held on May 24.

Lee explained, “There was not a significant change in my assets. There have been cases where my elderly parents, due to age and mobility issues, declined to disclose their assets.”

Regarding the difference in asset declarations in 2022, he countered, “The 95 million won represents my personal assets, while the 500 million won includes the total assets of my family and direct relatives. The claims are confusing my personal and family assets.”

Regarding the money-giving allegations, a member of Lee’s campaign stated, “This was not something the campaign officially directed or was involved in. The person involved says that what was handed over was not a cash envelope but a written statement.”

Hyungduk Park, a candidate, is holding a press conference at the Dongducheon City Hall press room on the 26th. Photo by Jonggu Lee

As the Dongducheon mayoral election shifts in its final days from a policy competition to a full-scale confrontation over issues of morality and verification, local political circles are focusing their attention on the decisions of the election commission and the police.

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