Lee Won-taek, governor of North Jeolla Province, has been referred to prosecutors on charges of publishing false information by claiming he had personally paid for meals for himself and his aides at an evening meeting.
The Anti-Corruption and Economic Crime Investigation Unit of the North Jeolla Provincial Police Agency said on Sept. 17 that it had referred the governor to prosecutors without detention on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act's ban on publishing false information.
Lee was reported to authorities on allegations that he had claimed to have paid 150,000 won for meals for himself and his aides at a meeting held at a restaurant in Jeongeup on the evening of Nov. 29 last year, when he had not.
Suspicions emerged at the time that Lee had arranged for Kim Seul-ji, a former member of the North Jeolla Provincial Council, to cover the total meal bill of 727,000 won for those in attendance. Lee had denied the allegations, saying he had paid for the meals of himself and his staff before leaving.
Police were unable to verify what happened at the time because the restaurant's closed-circuit television footage had passed its retention period. They then summoned attendees to review their statements and concluded that accounts saying Lee had not handed over any money for the meals were more credible, leading to the referral.
Police did not, however, find that Lee had conspired with Kim over her payment of the bill. They therefore decided not to refer the...
Lee Won-taek, governor of North Jeolla Province, has been referred to prosecutors on charges of publishing false information by claiming he had personally paid for meals for himself and his aides ...