Party chief apologizes amid suspicions that mayor candidate staged attack

The Reform Party's candidate for mayor of Busan, Jeong I-han, has been accused of faking a terrorist attack while campaigning for the June 3 local elections, prompting party leader Lee Jun-seok to vow to pursue the strongest legal response against Jeong should the rumors prove to be true.

"If the reports by investigative authorities and the media are true, this would be a grave election crime that is almost beyond comprehension," Lee said during a meeting of the party's supreme council at the National Assembly on Thursday. "I cannot help but feel devastated. I feel a profound sense of responsibility, as he was nominated by our party.”

Lee's comments came after the Busan Geumjeong Police Precinct said Wednesday that it was investigating Jeong on suspicion of spreading false information in violation of the Public Official Election Act and obstructing the execution of official duties through deception.

Jeong claimed that he suffered a serious injury after being assaulted while campaigning during the morning rush hour in Geumjeong District, Busan, on April 27. The man was accused of shouting insults, including remarks suggesting the candidate was "just a young punk," before throwing a drink. The man fled the scene but was later apprehended by police.

Police sought an arrest warrant for the man on charges of interfering with an election under the Public Official Election Act, but a court denied the request.

Immediately after the incident, Jeong's camp told media outlets that “the candidate had fallen and struck his head during the attack, and that he had been diagnosed with a concussion at a hospital," referring to the incident as a political attack.

Jeong subsequently campaigned while wearing a neck brace and also submitted a petition to the police requesting leniency for the man accused of throwing the drink.

While investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident involving the man, police began examining the possibility that it had been staged. On June 4, the day after the elections, investigators searched Jeong's campaign office under suspicion that the incident may have been staged.

"We cannot disclose what led us to suspect the incident may have been staged," a police official said at the time, adding that authorities are "investigating while keeping all possibilities open" in light of concerns that the event may have influenced the outcome of the election, in which Jeong finished third with 27,418 votes, or 1.56 percent of the vote.

Police, however, are now also reported to be looking into claims that Jeong and the man who threw the drink may have known each other before the incident.

Jeong left the party through its online membership system before the allegations were reported by the media, according to the Reform Party, announcing his retirement from politics on social media a day after the election. Since then, he has removed all posts from his accounts.

"Jeong announced his retirement from politics on social media without notifying us, and then withdrew from the party online," Lee said. "Given those circumstances, there must be accountability."

Lee stressed that the party would launch its own fact-finding committee and hold Jeong responsible to the fullest extent possible under both civil and criminal law based on the facts that emerge.

The party leader also told reporters after the meeting that the party had not uncovered any information beyond what had already been reported while adding that he does not believe the ex-candidate would ever be able to continue a political career, saying his actions were “clearly a matter that has damaged the party's reputation.”

Police are reportedly examining the nature of their relationship before the incident and whether the drink attack had been planned in advance. Investigators are also looking into the circumstances surrounding Jeong's claim that he had lost consciousness, as some aspects of what occurred did not match the campaign's account. Police are currently working to establish the facts.

The JoongAng Ilbo made several attempts to contact Jeong for comment but received no response.

BY CHO MUN-GYU [[email protected]]