◀ anchor ▶
The local elections are five days away.
In our country, the ‘public election system’, so that candidates can run for office without money, following the election, candidates are compensated for election expenses from the national treasury.
If the voter turnout exceeds 10%, half of the election cost is returned, and if it exceeds 15%, the full amount is returned.
Instead, if the election is invalidated due to irregularities in the election process, all of this money must be returned.
It’s natural, since we can’t support public taxes for unfair elections.
But, would everyone return it?
This is the first news we have covered today.
As you might have guessed, the results of the MBC coverage showed that there were many election offenders who did not pay the election expenses they had to return.
Even so, there were quite a few people who ran once more in this local election.
Reporters from Jeonju, Chuncheon, Gwangju, Gyeongnam, and Daegu MBC followed and covered the story together.
Reporters Han Beom-soo, Heo Joo-hee, and Lee Da-hyun follow up.
◀ Reporter Han Beom-soo ▶
Candidate Park Kyung-cheol, who ran as an independent in the Iksan mayoral election this year.
[박경철/전북 익산시장 후보]
“You have to trust Mayor Park Kyung-cheol.”
Candidate Park’s election was invalidated following one year as mayor as he was convicted of violating the election law in 2015.
Of course, the 110 million won in election expenses that had been compensated had to be returned.
how much did you pay?
Only 1 million won was forcibly collected, and the remaining 190 million won was recorded as ‘uncollectible’.
The property reported this time is regarding minus 400 million won.
[박경철/전북 익산시장 후보]
“I lived as a nanny for 6 years, what kind of income would I have…”
However, when I looked closely at the property, I found that he had 85 million won worth of calligraphy works, paintings, and 16 pieces.
Even in 2015, Candidate Park had an artwork worth 50 million won.
When I asked if I might sell art and pay for the election, the answer came back.
[박경철/전북 익산시장 후보]
“Art works are a hobby that I collect throughout my life. To say, ‘It is problematic and corrupt to have even works of art,’ represents a very ignorant cultural literacy.”
Candidate Seung-ho Yoon, who is running for mayor of Namwon, also had to pay 110 million won in the past for violating the election law.
However, 11 years have passed and they have not paid a single penny, and it is now impossible to even collect a penny following 5 years of prescription.
[윤승호/전북 남원시장 후보]
“I really didn’t have money at the time, so I mightn’t pay.”
The fortune revealed this year is 600 million won.
When I traced the property details, I had been holding 3 lots of land in the name of my family since 10 years ago.
I asked if it was possible to return some of the election expenses by selling even the land.
[윤승호/전북 남원시장 후보]
“(Disposal of it) will be 15 million won. What did the mountain in the Jirisan Mountains do… Is the 110 million won deposit meaningful?”
Candidate Yoon, who was like this, donated 30 million won to a welfare organization as the issue of non-return became a stumbling block following he decided to run for office.
◀ Reporter Joo-hee Heo ▶
Candidate Lee Ki-chan running for the Gangwon-do Assemblyman.
Candidate Myung Lee, who ran for the Tongyeong City Council.
Candidate Ki-chan Lee, who has already been re-elected, falsely stated a criminal record of violence, and Candidate Myung Lee, who ran for the third term, bought food for the voters and was voided.
The two candidates have to offer 33 million won and 28 million won, respectively.
The two claim to have no money.
[이기찬/강원도의원 후보]
“What are you going to do if you don’t have money? If you don’t have money… where do you go to steal the money you don’t have?”
[이명/경남 통영시의원 후보]
“There is some import. But for two or three years, imports and exports have been suspended due to Corona…”
We looked at the property reported to the National Election Commission.
It is the land in the name of the spouse of candidate Lee Ki-chan. The current market price is regarding 100 million won, which is more than enough money to pay off election expenses.
I put it up to pay the election expenses for this run, but it is not sold.
Candidate Lee Myung has an apartment and a detached house worth 300 million won in front of his 30-year-old son.
[이명/경남 통영시의원 후보]
“It was once I discussed it with my son… because my son is single…”
Likewise, even if your spouse or children have property, you cannot collect it unless it is your property.
Even if you have your own deposit, if you avoid the time of the tax office investigation, it cannot be collected, and even if you have cash, it is difficult to track.
So, even if you don’t pay money, you can enjoy your hobbies while boasting regarding your savings.
[이명/경남 통영시의원 후보]
“There are very few things that are worthwhile. It’s all a hobby…”
The only way to win the election is to run once more.
[이기찬/강원도의원 후보]
“First of all, winning is the first priority, and if I win, maybe there is another way…”
◀ Reporter Lee Da-hyun ▶
Politicians are a problem, but the National Election Commission and the tax office, which are handing over the collection work, are also a problem.
Candidate Jeon Wan-jun had to be removed from Hwasun County for violating the 2011 Election Act.
[전완준/전남 화순군수 후보]
“I’m back following 11 years. I came back because I wanted to work.”
I also didn’t pay 1.5 million won.
[전완준/전남 화순군수 후보]
“Because I never received a notice of (return of election expenses). It’s mine… yes.”
What happened?
It is said that the National Election Commission has requested the tax office to collect money five times over the past 11 years.
[전남 화순군 선관위 관계자]
“The National Election Commission has now told me to send it out every year. I ordered it from above…”
However, the competent tax office did not send a response at all to the Election Commission on three occasions, saying ‘the former candidate has no property’ two times.
The property reported by the former candidate this time is 990 million won.
He owns 430 million won of stock in a farming association corporation, and this corporation has also paid him 4 million won a month for the past two years.
[전완준/전남 화순군수 후보]
“If you pay it legally, you have to pay it. Korean citizens can’t do it if they don’t have to pay taxes.”
Se-ho Jang, former governor of Chilgok, owns a neat, modern two-story building and a tiled house with his wife.
I received a notice asking me to return 80 million won for election expenses, but I refused, saying the Supreme Court decision might not be accepted.
[장세호/경북 칠곡군수 후보]
“I made a declaration to the Election Commission. I can’t return it. After that, I had a salary and everything. I had property…”
Nevertheless, the National Election Commission investigated candidate Jang only once and ruled that the collection was impossible.
Video coverage: Seo Jeong-hee (Jeonju) Kim Sang-bae (Gwangju) Lee In-hwan (Chuncheon) Jang Seong-wook (Gyeongnam) Yoon Jong-hee (Daegu) / Video editing: Kom-geun, Kim Ha-eun, Ryu Daye
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