Kwak Kyu-taek submitting a complaint against candidate Jung Won-oh [Seoul=Yonhap News]

The People Power Party filed two complaints on the 18th against Jung Won-oh, a candidate for Seoul mayor from the Democratic Party of Korea.

First, the party's Central Election Campaign Committee's Clean Election Headquarters filed a complaint with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency against candidate Jung for violating the Election Law by making false statements and for false accusation, claiming that he made false statements while explaining his past assault conviction.

The Clean Election Headquarters stated in a press release, "The facts of the assault case during his tenure as secretary to the Yangcheon District Office chief are recorded in the Yangcheon District Council minutes from 1995, showing that he threatened the owner when his request for an overnight stay with a female employee was denied, and subsequently assaulted two civilians and two police officers who tried to intervene, leading to a confirmed fine of 3 million won in 1996."

It added, "Despite this, candidate Jung has consistently offered a false explanation of 'a dispute due to differences in perception of the May 18th democratization movement.' Even when Representative Joo Jin-woo released a recording of the original victim stating, 'The assault did not occur at all due to an argument about May 18th,' he has shown an outrageous attitude by filing complaints against People Power Party lawmakers instead."

Kwak Kyu-taek, head of the Clean Election Headquarters, urged, "We strongly urge the investigative authorities to take strict action in accordance with the law and principles."

Earlier, the Democratic Party had filed complaints against People Power Party lawmakers Kim Jae-seop, who raised suspicions of Jung's "false explanation" based on the district council minutes, and Joo Jin-woo, who released a recording claimed to be the voice of the past assault victim, on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act by making false statements for the purpose of losing the election, on the 13th and 14th, respectively.

In the afternoon, lawmakers belonging to the party's Public Administration and Security Committee filed a complaint against candidate Jung for making false statements, in relation to Jung's recent criticisms of candidate Oh Se-hoon regarding construction errors, such as missing rebar, found in the GTX-A line section at Samsung Station.

The lawmakers argued, "Candidate Jung and his election campaign are inciting groundless fears with provocative expressions such as 'rebar-less GTX,' 'Seoul City's insensitivity to safety,' and 'concealment of shoddy construction' in relation to the GTX-A construction."

They continued, "Although Seoul City officially reported to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport immediately after identifying the anomalies, candidate Jung claimed that the report was made 'five and a half months after the problem occurred.' We deeply regret seeing the issue of citizen safety being exploited for the election."

They also stated, "Candidate Jung faces various suspicions, including his past drunk driving incident, suspicions of private contracts during his tenure as Seongdong District Mayor, and evasion of dual debates. The citizens of Seoul will judge him through this election."