Dinner at a Korean beef restaurant for the elected candidates without voting for the provincial council
At that time, there were 80 attendees… The meal cost 2.4 million won
Police investigator and Election Commission staff meeting on-site confirmation
Jeongeup mayor candidates and constituency lawmakers also attended the event.
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[앵커]
A report has been received by the police that dozens of people are gathering at a Korean beef restaurant ahead of the recent local elections and having a suspicious dinner.
It turned out that they were members of the Democratic Party of Korea, and the local mayor candidates and local lawmakers also attended the event.
Police are investigating whether there is a violation of election laws, including who calculated the cost of the meal.
This is the exclusive report by reporter Kim Min-seong.
[기자]
This is a Korean beef meat restaurant in Jeongeup, Jeollabuk-do.
In the evening, people in blue campaign uniforms gather in front of the restaurant one by one.
The gathering place is a restaurant owned by Lim Seung-sik, a candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, who was elected to the Jeonbuk-do lawmaker without a vote in this local election.
In the local community, it is known as a restaurant run by a couple who are candidates for the provincial council, but the actual owner is a son in his 30s.
It was found that regarding 80 people gathered and ate together, and the price of the meal was regarding 2.4 million won.
[임승식 / 더불어민주당 정읍시 제1선거구 전북도의원 후보 : 공깃밥 별도 하고, 술이 있을 것이고, 음료수 있을 것이고 그런 거 있으면 이렇게 나오죠.]
After receiving the report, the police rushed to the scene and immediately started investigating, and the Jeongeup Election Commission staff also witnessed the scene.
It was confirmed that Provincial Assemblyman Candidate Im Seung-sik, as well as Democratic Party Candidate Hak-su Lee, Jeongeup Mayor, and Rep. Yoon Jun-byeong, a member of the constituency, were also present.
[이학수 / 더불어민주당 정읍시장 후보 : 저는 처음에 막 시작할 때 인사드리고 바로 나왔어. 거기서 식사한 것도 아니고. 처음 다 시작하자마자….]
These three people drew a line with the intention that “there is no problem under the Public Official Election Act as it is a gathering of party members who manage the local area.”
He added, “I didn’t eat and just stopped by to say hello,” he added.
[윤준병 / 더불어민주당 국회의원(정읍·고창) : 당원협의회장들이 거금 해서 한 거로 알고 있어요. 각기 모금함을 통해 가지고….]
It is reported that senior citizens in their 70s and 80s also participated in this so-called ‘unity meeting’.
It is not known whether they are ordinary voters or members of the party.
As the election draws near, the police are closely examining who attended the meeting, and how the cost of food was calculated.
As explained, the police investigation is focused on whether the meals were individually calculated or whether someone calculated them collectively.
If someone made a batch calculation, the purpose of the calculation is also subject to investigation.
In accordance with the Public Official Election Act, candidates for local elections and their families are prohibited from making donations to meetings or events of constituencies.
It is known that the police are investigating the meeting by calling in the organizers and attendees as witnesses.
This is YTN Kim Min-seong.
YTN Kim Min-seong (kimms0708@ytn.co.kr)
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