▲ Reform Party Busan Mayoral Candidate Jeong Yi-han after the alleged attack
Police are reportedly investigating the possibility that the attack on Jeong Yi-han, the Reform Party candidate who ran for Busan mayor in the June 3 local elections, was staged.
The Busan Geumjeong Police Station stated today (June 17) that they are verifying the facts regarding the incident in which candidate Jeong claimed to have been hit by a thrown beverage while campaigning in April.
It is reported that the police conducted a search and seizure of Jeong's campaign office on June 4, the day after the election.
The police are currently investigating charges including obstruction of justice by deception, dissemination of false information, and violations of the Public Official Election Act.
On April 27, Jeong claimed that he was struck by a beverage thrown by a passing driver while campaigning near the Guseo Interchange in Geumjeong-gu, Busan.
At the time, Jeong's campaign claimed that he lost consciousness after falling while trying to dodge the beverage and was diagnosed with a concussion and muscle contusions at a hospital.
Immediately after the incident, police arrested a man in his 30s, the driver of the vehicle, based on CCTV footage from the scene, but an arrest warrant was later dismissed.
Following the incident, Jeong personally visited the man and submitted a petition for leniency, and returned to the campaign trail two days later wearing a neck brace.
The police stated that while they are reviewing the circumstances and evidence of the case, it is difficult to disclose specific details of the investigation at this stage.
The Reform Party central headquarters stated in an official release, "Immediately after learning of the situation regarding former candidate Jeong Yi-han, we decided to cooperate actively at the party level to ensure that no suspicions remain regarding the investigative process."
The party emphasized, "As a victim of this incident, the party is acutely aware that uncovering the truth is directly linked to the party's reputation."
Furthermore, the party added, "Former candidate Jeong has already withdrawn from the party via the online system," and "Once the facts are determined by investigative authorities, the central headquarters will take necessary additional civil and criminal measures."
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.