Police Raid Jeonnam-Gwangju Buk-gu Chief Shin Sujeong's Office over Alleged Election Law Violations

Probe into allegations of providing cash and other benefits in exchange for recruiting party members

Police have launched a compulsory investigation into Shin Sujeong, head of Buk-gu in Jeonnam-Gwangju, over allegations of illegally recruiting party members with voting rights and providing money and gifts during the party primary ahead of the June 3 local elections.

A view of Gwangju Bukbu Police Station.

At around 1:20 p.m. on October 14, Gwangju Bukbu Police Station sent four investigators to conduct a search and seizure at the district office, including the district chief's office. Police reportedly seized Shin's mobile phone and other items before concluding the operation.

The search and seizure stems from a complaint accusing Shin of violating the Public Official Election Act.

Police began investigating after receiving a complaint against Shin in May, ahead of the June 3 local elections, from a rival candidate's camp and others.

The complaint reportedly alleges that in January 2025, while preparing for the Democratic Party of Korea's primary to select a candidate for Buk-gu district chief and the election, Shin used the campaign office at the time to recruit about 900 party members with voting rights on someone else's behalf. In return, Shin allegedly provided cash and other benefits worth about 8 million won to a particular individual and other third parties.

Police plan to examine the mobile phone seized from Shin, along with call records and messages, to establish what happened and determine whether money or other benefits were actually provided and whether they were given in exchange for the recruitment.

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