Women's Groups Demand Return of 2.3 Million Won in Allowances Received by Former Lawmaker Choi Yeong-joeng Amid Child Sex Crime Allegations

Women's groups have urged the full return of 2.3 million won in activity fees collected by former Councilman Choi Yeong-joeng, who faces allegations of child sex crimes. The Chungbuk Women's Solidarity stated that former Councilman Choi began his council activities while under investigation and received a salary and activity fees, amounting to deceiving the citizens, and added that he must also withdraw his application for the reimbursement of 40 million won in election expenses.

The Cheongju City Council paid former Councilman Choi approximately 2.3 million won (gross), including 770,000 won for 16 days of council activity fees and 1.53 million won in monthly salary, following his resignation on the 20th. The 'Ordinance on Payment of Council Activity Fees' limits payment only when a member is in custody after an indictment is filed. The National Election Commission also decided to reimburse the election expenses to former Councilman Choi at the end of this month, excluding non-compliant expenditures, judging that the case does not fall under the restrictive reasons for reimbursement under the Public Official Election Act.

The Rebuilding Korea Party held a press conference at the National Assembly on the 24th and announced it would report prosecutors and officials from the Cheongju District Prosecutors' Office to the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) after the prosecution dismissed police warrants to review communications records and refused to accept a warrant to arrest former Councilman Choi. The Rebuilding Korea Party mentioned Kim Jin-mo, the former chairman of the Cheongju Seowon-gu district committee who nominated Choi, and his personal connections with the former chief prosecutor, calling for an investigation into whether any lobbying or pressure was applied. However, the Cheongju District Prosecutors' Office rebutted the allegations regarding political ties, stating they are completely unfounded.

Kim Jin-mo, the former chairman of the Cheongju Seowon-gu district committee, resigned on the 17th, taking responsibility for the nomination shortly after the police investigation into former Councilman Choi Yeong-joeng became known. The People Power Party has also designated the Seowon-gu district committee as a "problematic chapter."