Extensive Investigation Underway into Exaggerated or Falsified Claims for Reimbursement and Political Fund Incomes and Expenditures 

Reward for reporting offences up to 500 million Korean won (500,000 USD), 1 billion Korean won (1M USD) rewarded to 18 people during the 19th National Assembly elections 

The National Election Commission (NEC) of the Republic of Korea has established 18 task forces nationwide and is conducting an extensive investigation between April 25 and June 30 in order to find any false election or political fund reports, any illegal expenditure or any other offences.

The targets of the investigation include:

• False reporting, forgery, alteration or omission in accounting reports or other documents

• The acceptance of any illegal political funds 

• Payment to any volunteers

• Spending in excess of campaign limits

• Any income or expenditure made outside the reported account or not by the authorized person

In particular, in strong consideration that election funds come from taxpayer''s money, the investigation and checks will be focused on violations such as any intentionally exaggerated or false requests for reimbursements, any reduced or omitted election expense reports and any kick-backs from rigged contracts based on the collusion with candidates or forged copies of receipts. 

During the 19th National Assembly elections, investigations into the income and expenditure of election and political funds uncovered 458 cases of law violations, and within those cases there were 35 charges and eight further investigation. Meanwhile, 18 people who reported violations were rewarded a total of around 1 billion Korean won. 

The NEC plans to investigate fully and take stern measures against any law violations related to political funds, and in particular plans to exhaustively track down any violations regarding election fund income and expenses that are subsidized from the national budget.

In addition, the Commission encourages the public to report or inform on law violations, commenting that anybody who reports illegal election activities shall not only have their identity protected in accordance with the law, but they shall also receive an award of up to 500 million won for reporting a violation.