Police are said to be investigating the possibility that the attack on Reform Party Busan mayoral candidate Jeong I-han was staged.
According to Busan Geumjeong Police Station on the 17th, police are verifying the facts of the case in which candidate Jeong claimed to have been harmed when a beverage was thrown during a campaign speech.
Jeong claimed that on Apr. 27, while campaigning near the Guseo interchange in Geumjeong District, Busan, a passing car driver splashed a beverage cup that hit Jeong.
Jeong's side said the candidate tried to avoid the beverage, fell, struck the head on the ground, lost consciousness, and was taken to a hospital, where Jeong was diagnosed with a concussion and muscle contusion and admitted.
Immediately after the incident, police urgently arrested a man in his 30s, identified as A, the driver, based on on-site closed-circuit (CC)TV footage and other evidence, and sought a detention warrant, which was denied.
Jeong visited the man in person and submitted a petition for leniency, and two days after the incident continued campaigning while wearing a neck brace.
As the investigation continued, police were said to have searched and seized the office used as Jeong's campaign headquarters on the 4th, the day after the election.
Police are reviewing allegations against Jeong of obstruction of official duties by fraudulent means, publication of false information, and violations of the Public Official Election Act.
The Reform Party said, "Immediately after learning of the matter concerning former candidate Jeong I-han, we decided at the party level to cooperate actively so that not a shadow of doubt remains about the investigative process."
It added, "Former candidate Jeong has already left the party," and said, "Once the facts are established through the investigative agency, the central party will take necessary civil and criminal action."