Allegations have surfaced that a senior official at the Korea Association of Realtors(KAR) intervened in the process that voided the results and ordered a rerun of the elections for the heads of the North Chungcheong and North Gyeongsang provincial chapters. An association audit report concluded that Vice President A, who served as chair of the central election commission, was involved in the decisions to void the results and hold reruns, and that there were indications A supported a particular candidate in the North Chungcheong rerun. National delegates are set to vote on a no-confidence motion against A at a general meeting on the 27th.
According to an ad hoc audit report by ChosunBiz obtained on the 19th, the Korea Association of Realtors(KAR) auditor determined that A undermined the neutrality of election management during the process of voiding the results and holding reruns for the North Chungcheong and North Gyeongsang chapter head elections. A is a vice president of the association and at the time oversaw election management as chair of the central election commission.
According to the real estate brokerage industry, the association sent a notice on the 14th to 131 delegates announcing a delegates' general meeting on the 27th. The no-confidence motion against A is scheduled to be addressed at this meeting.
The controversy began with the 14th election for the North Chungcheong and North Gyeongsang chapter heads held in Aug. last year. At the time, a person surnamed Kim won in the North Chungcheong chapter, and a person surnamed Do won in the North Gyeongsang chapter. Afterward, allegations emerged that they engaged in illegal campaigning by providing food such as hongeo to members with voting rights. The central election commission decided on Sept. 19 last year to void both results and hold reruns.
Kim, the North Chungcheong winner, challenged the National Election Commission's decision in court. As a result, the rerun schedule was put on hold for a time, but the reruns were later held. A person surnamed Yoon won in the North Chungcheong chapter, and a person surnamed Jeong won in the North Gyeongsang chapter.
However, after the reruns, allegations arose that the decision to void the initial election results and the process of conducting the reruns had been preplanned to ensure a particular candidate's victory. In particular, controversy grew after an audio recording surfaced ahead of the North Chungcheong rerun that captured A, Yoon, and North Chungcheong member B discussing the composition of the election commission and personnel appointments of chapter executives following Yoon's victory.
The audit report assessed it as "a case in which a series of steps—preplanning to void the main election to seat a specific defeated candidate, forcing a rerun, and intervening in the personnel composition of the election commission—were carried out in an organized manner."
The audit report also said it detected indications that Yoon, who lost the initial North Chungcheong election, had been presumed in advance as the rerun winner. According to the report, A and Yoon's side exchanged views on the composition of the North Chungcheong election commission even before the rerun was officially announced. The auditor concluded this could be seen as a rerun candidate attempting to influence the makeup of the Commissioners who would manage the election.
The report also included content stating that personnel appointments for chapter executives were discussed in advance. The audit report said A asked Yoon to appoint B as chapter vice chair, received consent, and, based on that, promised the position to B. The auditor said this "was confirmed to have seriously undermined election neutrality."
The audit report also raised allegations that A received meals and entertainment from B and was given alcohol as a gift. It specified that in Dec. last year, A was treated by B at a sashimi restaurant and an entertainment bar, and that in Sept. last year, A was given alcohol as a gift, with the price unverified. However, the report did not make clear whether these entertainments and gifts were provided in return for election management or chapter executive appointments.
A disputed the allegations of election interference and the fairness of the audit report. A said, "Irregularities were confirmed in the initial election process, and the National Election Commission unanimously decided to hold reruns," adding, "Because the matter harmed the association, there was no choice but to hold reruns."
A went on to say, "An ad hoc audit report should be fair and objective, but this is not the case at all," and "The audit report was drafted mainly based on statements by people opposing the current leadership." It was not confirmed whether A explained in detail who covered the expense at the sashimi restaurant and entertainment bar or whether alcohol was received as a gift.
KIM Jong-ho, president of the Korea Association of Realtors(KAR), said, "We are handling the matter in accordance with the articles of association and regulations."
The Korea Association of Realtors(KAR) is the largest realtors' organization in Korea, with 105,801 members as of the end of last year. It will convert to a statutory body starting on the 28th, when the revised Licensed Real Estate Agent Act takes effect. After the transition to a statutory body, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's oversight of the association's articles and code of ethics will also be strengthened.