Prosecutors Indict Three Members of Osan Mayor's Private Organization "Baekbal-hoe"

The Public Security Division of the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office (Division Chief Prosecutor Choi Tae-won) announced on the 18th that it has indicted two people including Shim Moo (45), secretary to Osan Mayor Kwak Sang-wook of the New Politics Alliance for Democracy, for violation of the Public Official Election Act by mobilizing the private organization "Baekbal-hoe" to conduct pre-election campaigning on behalf of Mayor Kwak ahead of the June 4 local elections.

Additionally, Kim Moo (48), former deputy director of the city's athletic association, was indicted on the same charges for visiting Mayor Kwak's opposing candidate and demanding money in exchange for revealing the candidate's weaknesses.

Shim and others are suspected of distributing seven copies of Mayor Kwak's published book free of charge to citizens through city-affiliated agencies shortly after Mayor Kwak's book publication commemorative event in February.

To support Mayor Kwak, they are also suspected of systematically recruiting membership contributors (party members who pay membership fees) since the end of last year, recruiting approximately 300 people.

Despite being a civil servant, Shim is also suspected of violating the obligation of electoral neutrality by participating in Mayor Kwak's election campaign.

Additionally, Kim is suspected of contacting Lee Kwon-jae, the candidate of the Saenuri Party who faced off against Mayor Kwak in May, saying "I will inform you of Mayor Kwak's election law violations" and demanding 50 million won, as well as demanding that if elected mayor, his younger brother be hired as executive director of the city's athletic association office.

All of these individuals were identified as members of the private organization Baekbal-hoe, which was formed after Mayor Kwak was elected four years ago.

Baekbal-hoe, a name derived from the white hair of some members including Mayor Kwak, is known to include approximately 20 executives from city civil servants and city-affiliated agencies.

In addition to these individuals, prosecutors have received custody referrals from police of three Baekbal-hoe members including Lee Moo (58), executive director of the Osan Culture and Arts Association and chairman of Baekbal-hoe, and are continuing investigations.