Jeonbuk Primary Vote Rigging, Police Cartel Allegations

A press conference regarding the Jeonbuk local election primary allegations was held at the National Assembly Communication Hall. Democratic Party lawmaker Jung Jin-wook, along with Seong Jun-hoo, a preliminary candidate for Imsil County Mayor in Jeonbuk, and Han Soo-yong, a preliminary candidate for Jinan County Mayor in Jeonbuk, attended to demand a full investigation into the Jeonbuk regional primary irregularities.

Lawyers from the 'Lawyers for Inspecting Prosecutors' association also attended, providing legal support and emphasizing the importance of the issue.

Lawmaker Jung strongly criticized the lukewarm attitude of the police and the Democratic Party on this issue, emphasizing that it could lead to a crisis of democracy.

This was done by exploiting the 50% reflection rate of primary polls, opening numerous mobile phones in the name of people from other regions or specific individuals, and systematically providing proxy responses to the polls.

A structure was formed where a specific candidate, otherwise unpopular, could be elected through these organized proxy responses, and suspicions of inadequate police investigation were also raised in the process.

Organized public opinion manipulation occurred in 8 cities and counties in Jeonbuk, and the police's attempt to systematically conceal the incident in collusion with local vested interests was condemned. Suspicions of proxy responses using loopholes in the anonymous phone number system emerged as a key issue.

Allegations of delayed case assignment and dispersed assignment to specific police stations were raised, and signs of intentional reduction and alteration of election law violation charges were also detected. In particular, suspicions that the accused police officer continues to be involved in the case are expected to cause a stir.

The press conference speaker stated, "We condemn the police's attempt to systematically conceal the incident in collusion with local vested interests."

They demanded an impartial investigation into the organized public opinion manipulation in 8 cities and counties of Jeonbuk. Along with this, they emphasized the need for a comprehensive re-investigation of fund flows and command structures, and a thorough verification of the elected candidates' involvement in illegal election interference.

They also urged measures to prevent accountability evasion based on political status, stating, "Investigative agencies must comprehensively confirm the correlation of cases by region and thoroughly investigate the acquisition of mobile phone lines, misuse of anonymous numbers, organized proxy responses, fund flows, and command structures."

They strongly condemned the Jeonbuk police's handling of the public opinion manipulation investigation and demanded an independent audit and investigation. They asserted that the investigation records of the Jeonbuk Provincial Police Agency and related police stations must be thoroughly reviewed to clarify the reasons for case reception, assignment, transfer, and change of charges.

They urged the assignment of a higher authority or a separate investigative body to prevent conflicts of interest, and also called for the establishment of institutional mechanisms to strengthen whistleblower protection. The press conference speaker raised their voice, saying, "Conduct an independent audit and investigation into the police's alleged investigation delays, downplaying, and cover-up."

They emphasized the need for institutional improvements by ensuring transparency in election polls and strict law enforcement. They argued that systems should be supplemented to verify actual residency and duplicate responses during the polling process, and to block repeated participation using multiple lines, proxy responses, and organized bribery.

They also added that criteria for punishing organized public opinion manipulation should be established, and accountability standards for elected officials and candidates should be revised. The press conference speaker stressed, "We must supplement the system to verify actual residency and duplicate responses during the polling process, and block repeated participation using multiple companies, proxy responses, and organized bribery."

In Imsil County, an abnormally high poll response rate of 52.7% was recorded, suggesting that artificial public opinion was formed in a region with a high proportion of residents aged 65 or older.

This case was referred to the Jeonbuk Provincial Police Agency for investigation by the National Election Commission last year, with evidence of large-scale, simultaneous public opinion manipulation in 8 cities and counties.

The investigation has progressed rapidly with raids on telecommunication companies, revealing the true nature of the large-scale public opinion manipulation scandal. Preliminary candidate Seong Jun-hoo mentioned recent raids in 8 cities and counties, including Imsil and Jinan, involving candidates and even dealerships.

Approximately 500 individuals have been summoned for questioning to date, and the scale of the incident appears significant, with allegations of broker involvement and the disbursement of tens of billions of won.

Out of 7,000 anonymous phone numbers in Imsil County, 5,000 were confirmed to be from externally introduced mobile phones, exposing the problem of a primary election structure that does not reflect the opinions of local residents. This shows signs of organized external personnel being mobilized to support specific candidates.

Preliminary candidate Seong Jun-hoo pointed out the situation where the will of actual residents is distorted, stating, "It is now being revealed that people who do not live in Imsil voted for a specific individual."

Criticism also arose regarding the Democratic Party's failure to improve primary election systems, which has led to ordinary citizens and even family members being implicated as suspects.

The speaker claimed that their repeated objections within the party and demands for a shift to member-only primaries through National Assembly press conferences were ignored.

They specifically criticized lawmakers, including Representative Jung Chung-rae, and the party leadership for their lack of action, arguing that the party lacked the will to resolve internal issues.

Allegations arose that a money envelope and other bribery incidents occurred in the Jinan area, but despite whistleblower reports and evidence secured through New탐사's coverage, the investigation has been delayed. In particular, suspicions of an unfair investigation grew after it was revealed that the head of the Jinan Police Station's investigation team and a close aide to the incumbent mayor are brothers.

The speaker raised serious concerns about the fairness of the investigation, stating, "Common sense dictates that no one would investigate."

The practice of transferring cases even those received through the National Sinmungo (People's Newspaper) or higher authorities, down to the relevant police station, has been repeated.

Despite repeated protests from victims, this assignment issue continued as a matter of routine, raising doubts about the fairness of the investigation.

Even when a victim directly filed a complaint against the current head of the Jinan Police Station's investigation team and investigators with the Jeonbuk District Prosecutor's Office, the case was again transferred back to the Jinan Police Station. The speaker explained, "For some reason, the case assignment officer held onto it and then tore it up and sent it back to the Jinan Police Station," pointing out the unreasonable procedure.

Despite the prosecution merging the cases and directing the investigation to the National Police Agency, the case was once again sent to the Jinan Police Station. This demonstrates the problem of the same investigation assignment practice repeating, despite a petition submitted by 345 citizens.