![Jung Yi-han, the former Reform Party candidate for Busan mayor who faces allegations of staging an attack during the June 3 local elections, arrives at the Busan District Court on Wednesday to attend a pre-detention hearing. [Yonhap]](https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2026/07/08/rcv.YNA.20260708.PYH2026070812710005100_P1.jpg)
Jung Yi-han, the former Reform Party candidate for Busan mayor who claimed he was attacked during campaigning for the June 3 local elections, now faces possible detention after allegations emerged that the incident was staged.
Jung, who faces charges including obstruction of official duties by deception and violations of the Public Official Election Act, appeared at the Busan District Court on Wednesday for a pre-detention hearing set for 2 p.m.
Dressed in a suit and appearing composed, Jung was asked whether he admitted to staging the attack. "I am sorry. I will make all the facts crystal clear in court," he said, according to Yonhap News Agency. "I apologize, and I will do my utmost to cooperate faithfully with the investigation," he added.
Jung had claimed that on April 27, while campaigning near the Guseo interchange in Geumjeong-gu, Busan, he was struck by a drink thrown from the window of a passing vehicle and collapsed. His campaign said at the time that he had lost consciousness while trying to dodge the cup, was taken to a hospital, and was diagnosed with a concussion and muscle contusion.
However, the man who threw the drink was later identified as Jung's personal fitness trainer, prompting police to investigate whether the two had conspired to fabricate a so-called "terror attack." Police have been looking into the possibility of collusion.
Jung finished third in the Busan mayoral race in the June 3 local elections, receiving 27,418 votes for a 1.56 percent share.
A ruling on whether to detain Jung and one other person is expected as early as Wednesday evening.
betterj@heraldcorp.com
