Kim Jae-seop of the People Power Party filed a complaint accusing Chong Won-o, a Democratic Party of Korea preliminary candidate for Seoul mayor, of violating the Public Official Election Act.
On the morning of the 7th, at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency in Jongno District, Seoul, Kim held a press conference and said, "Chong's camp distorted recent poll results to produce and distribute promotional materials," adding, "It is a clear violation of the Public Official Election Act that undermines the fairness of elections, the foundation of democracy."
The polling issue Kim pointed out was first raised by Park Ju-min, a Democratic Party of Korea preliminary candidate for Seoul mayor. Park said of the polling promotional material distributed by Chong's camp, "The figures at the top of the materials were not the official approval ratings released by the polling institute," noting, "They are figures recalculated by arbitrarily excluding the 'don't know' or 'no response' group and only rebalancing the ratios among candidates."
In response, the preliminary candidate Chong appeared on CBS Radio on the morning of the 7th and said, "We adjusted the figures to percentages after excluding nonresponses in line with the Democratic Party primary rules," adding, "We proceeded after internal legal review and judged it lawful."
Kim said, "Just about a month ago, former Yeouido Institute deputy head Jang Ye-chan was sentenced to a 1.5 million won fine and disqualification from being elected for distorting and publishing poll results," adding, "Chong Won-o's conduct likewise falls under a violation of Article 96 of the Public Official Election Act applied to Deputy Head Jang."
He added, "If Jang Ye-chan is guilty, then Chong Won-o must also be found guilty," and said, "Even though, as a matter of law, the invalidation of candidate Chong Won-o's election is almost certain, if by any chance Chong becomes Seoul mayor, the city administration will once again face the terrible nightmare of 'administration halted' and a 'by-election.'"
Kim said, "We cannot entrust the future of Seoul, the capital of the Republic of Korea, to a stopgap candidate who is almost certain not to finish the term," adding, "Resign from the candidacy now and atone to the citizens of Seoul."