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Incheon, South Korea — Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok has been formally indicted without detention on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act, a move that casts a shadow over his political future and his planned bid for a third term as mayor. The Incheon District Prosecutors’ Office, Criminal Division 6, announced on November 28, 2025, that Mayor Yoo and seven others, including current and former Incheon city officials, were indicted.
The Charges: Illegal Campaign Activities
The indictment centers on allegations that Mayor Yoo mobilized Incheon city public servants for illegal campaign activities during his campaign for the People Power Party (PPP) presidential primary in April.
Specifically, the mayor is accused of:
Illegal Online Promotion: Posting a total of 116 promotional items on his personal social media accounts between April 9 and 21. These posts related to the 21st Presidential Election, including PPP primary campaign materials, election propaganda, and content promoting his administrative achievements.
Mass Text and Call Campaign: Sending approximately 1.8 million phone voice messages on April 20, the day before the first PPP primary poll, which included his election slogan, 'An Unexpected Match' (뜻밖의 승부), urging participation in the poll.
Newspaper Advertisements: Placing promotional advertisements in ten different newspapers on April 21, the day of the first PPP primary poll. These ads featured a photo from his autobiography, alongside profiles and political biographies of Mayor Yoo provided by other politicians and bureaucrats.
Officials Implicated
Among those indicted is 'A,' the Incheon City Political Affairs Chief, who is accused of:
Public Solicitation of Support: Attending Mayor Yoo's presidential bid press conference at Incheon's Jayu Park on April 9 and, despite his status as a public official, soliciting support and leading cheers for Yoo among the attendees.
Information Gathering: Commuting to Mayor Yoo's campaign office in Yeouido, Seoul, from April 10 to 22, to gather information on rival candidates.
The investigation, which began with a police referral of 12 people on October 29, 2025, concluded with the indictment of eight individuals. The prosecution decided to either suspend the indictment or drop the charges for five city employees, including staff from the Mayor's secretarial office, considering their level of involvement. The prosecution recently summoned and questioned Mayor Yoo once but has declined to disclose the specific details of the investigation, including whether the mayor admitted to the charges.
Political Fallout and Future Ramifications
The indictment carries significant political weight, especially as Mayor Yoo intends to run for a third term as the PPP candidate in the Incheon mayoral election scheduled for June 3, 2026.
According to the Public Official Election Act, if a candidate is convicted in the first trial and the verdict of a fine of one million Korean won (KRW 1,000,000) or more is upheld by the final appeal court, their eligibility to run for office is revoked for five years, and their campaigning activities are restricted during that period. The legal proceedings are expected to have a considerable impact on the upcoming local election.
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