It has been confirmed that police recently received a complaint alleging that Ko Young-cheol, president of the National Credit Union Federation of Korea (Credit Union), personally violated election law over several years. Ko is currently subject to police questioning on suspicion of violating the Act on the Election of Public Officials by Entrustment (Entrusted Election Act).
According to a compilation of reporting by ChosunBiz on the 22nd, Dunsan Police Station in Daejeon received a complaint on the 19th from the Credit Union labor union alleging Ko violated the Entrusted Election Act.
The complaint includes the union's claim—and supporting evidence—that for years Ko met directly with chairs of unit credit unions together with a Credit Union planning director surnamed Choi and said, "I plan to run in the presidential election. I ask for your support."
Chairs of unit credit unions exercise voting rights directly in the presidential election. Chairs of roughly 800 unit unions nationwide elect the president by vote. In January, Ko won with 301 votes (38.4%) out of a total of 784.
Earlier, at the end of May, the Credit Union union first filed a complaint against Choi. At the time, the union claimed that when Ko was a candidate for the next presidency, Ko instructed Choi, then the standing auditor at Gwangju Munhwa Credit Union, to conduct illegal campaign activities. The latest complaint adds the allegation that Ko went beyond mere instructions and personally carried out illegal campaigning.
Ko has signaled a response to the union's allegations. Early this month, Ko distributed an internal statement titled "A message to the union's executives and employees." In the statement, Ko said, "We will respond firmly to illegal acts such as the union's dissemination of false information, defamation, and obstruction of business," and, "At a time when the internal and external financial environment and management conditions are more difficult than ever, we cannot help but feel regret over the union's demands and actions, which are out of step with the sentiments of all members and the public."