National Election Commission cites excess campaign spending
Yeosu Mayor Seo Young-hak is set to face a police investigation on charges of violating the Political Funds Act.
The Yeosu branch of the National Election Commission said it had referred Seo and three others connected to his election campaign to prosecutors at the Suncheon branch office on suspicion of borrowing political funds — including campaign expenses for the June 3 local elections — free of charge, in violation of the Political Funds Act.
The case is expected to be transferred to the South Jeolla Province Police Agency for investigation, following a legal amendment separating prosecutorial investigation and indictment powers that takes effect Friday.
The National Election Commission determined that Seo had exceeded the legally permitted campaign expenditure of 220 million won ($163,000), calculated based on population, during the June 3 local elections.
"We cannot disclose specific amounts or details of matters currently under investigative referral," a Yeosu National Election Commission official said.
Seo denied the allegations, saying during the commission's probe that he had been repaying principal and interest each month under a normal debt arrangement between acquaintances, and rejecting the claim that he exceeded the legal campaign spending limit.
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