Police refer 33 election crime suspects to prosecutors
June 1 (Asia Today) -- Police in southern Gyeonggi Province referred 33 election crime suspects to prosecutors as investigations continue into alleged violations tied to South Korea's June 3 local elections.
The Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency said Monday it had received 249 cases involving suspected violations of the Public Official Election Act as of Sunday. Police said 592 people were subject to investigation.
The figures were up sharply from May 10, when police had received 132 cases involving 432 people. That means 117 cases and 160 people were added over about 20 days.
Police said they had completed investigations into 116 people connected to 39 cases. Of those, 33 were referred to prosecutors while 83 were not referred or were not formally booked.
Among the 33 suspects referred to prosecutors, 23 were accused of giving or receiving money or valuables, the largest category. Seven were accused of civil servants' involvement in elections, while one case each involved smear campaigning, election-related violence and violations of the official campaign period.
Police said 210 cases involving 476 people remain under investigation.
Two people have been arrested on allegations of violence during the election period.
In Bundang, Seongnam, a company worker in his 30s was arrested after allegedly throwing a 500-milliliter plastic water bottle at a preliminary candidate for the Seongnam City Council from the rooftop of an eight-story building near Migeum Station on May 12. The suspect was arrested at the scene and referred to prosecutors in custody.
In Pyeongtaek, a YouTuber in his 40s was arrested after allegedly assaulting a campaign worker for Cho Kuk Innovation Party candidate Cho Kuk, who is running in a parliamentary by-election in the Pyeongtaek B constituency. The man is also accused of striking a police officer who tried to intervene.
He faces allegations of violating the Public Official Election Act and obstructing official duties.
Police are also moving forward with investigations into major election-related cases.
A civic group filed a complaint over allegations that Kim Yong-nam, the Democratic Party candidate in the Pyeongtaek B parliamentary by-election, operated a lending business under another person's name. Police have not yet questioned the complainant.
The complaint alleges Kim received dividends through an agricultural corporation he owns while effectively operating the lending company under a borrowed name. Kim's campaign has denied the allegations, saying the company's establishment and operations followed legal procedures.
Police are also expected to question a suspect soon in a case involving alleged election interference by a civil servant during the Democratic Party's Suwon mayoral primary.
Police searched the office or related locations of a political appointee in Suwon, identified only by the surname A, on May 8 over alleged violations of the Public Official Election Act. Investigators are analyzing seized materials.
A police official said investigators would question A as a suspect after completing their review of the seized materials.
"With little time left before the election, we will move quickly with the investigation," the official said.
-- Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI
© Asia Today. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution prohibited.
Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260601010000210
Copyright 2026 UPI News Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
This story was originally published June 1, 2026 at 7:43 PM.