Police Refer Governor of North Chungcheong to Prosecutors Without Arrest Over Illegal Campaigning via Borrowed Cell Phones

Police plan to refer Shin Yong-hyun, governor of North Chungcheong Province, to prosecutors without detention as early as next week on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act for allegedly campaigning via cell phones registered under other people's names, it was confirmed Monday. If the sitting governor is referred without arrest, the case will move on to the prosecution's investigation stage.

The allegations date back to late March, ahead of the June 1 local elections, when the Democratic Party's primary for the North Chungcheong governorship was underway. According to the investigation, Shin's campaign at the time opened cell phones under the names of about 10 associates and sent tens of thousands of text messages urging party members' support. Under the election law, mass text-message campaigning is allowed only for candidates and pre-candidates, and only one registered phone may be used.

During a forensic analysis of the phones of those involved, police secured text message records in which Shin instructed others to campaign using the borrowed phones. Mr. A and Mr. B, key aides to the campaign, opened the phones on Shin's orders and hired about 10 workers to send campaign promotion texts during the primary. Mr. A, who runs a business, paid the workers some 37 million won in wages, and police found evidence suggesting Shin was aware of these activities.

On Sunday, police sought arrest warrants for the two men on charges including donations, bribery, and inducement of interests. Police also plan to decide soon whether to refer more than 30 booked individuals, including Mr. A and Mr. B. A police official said, "As this is an ongoing investigation, we cannot confirm anything."