Jeong Yi-han Appears in Court Amid Allegations of Staged Attack

Jeong Yi-han, a candidate for the Busan mayoralty from the Reform Party, appeared in court on July 8 for a pre-arrest hearing related to allegations of staging an attack during the June 3 local elections. A decision on his detention is expected later in the day.

The Busan District Court began the hearing at 2 p.m. for Jeong, who faces charges of obstructing public duties and violating election laws, as well as for an individual identified as A, who allegedly threw a beverage at him.

Jeong arrived at the court at 1:55 p.m. and stated, "I apologize. I will sincerely clarify the facts regarding today’s matter in court and throughout the ongoing investigation." He added, "I also want to express my apologies to the citizens of Busan. I will do my utmost in light of this incident," before proceeding into the courtroom.

The court is expected to decide on the detention of Jeong and A by late afternoon.

Jeong reported that on April 27, while campaigning near an interchange in Busan's Geumjeong District, he fell while trying to avoid a beverage thrown by a driver, resulting in a concussion and a muscle strain.

However, police began investigating the possibility that Jeong had staged the attack, conducting a search of his campaign office on June 4, the day after the election. They have been analyzing seized materials and interviewing related parties to determine the relationship between Jeong and A, their communications before and after the incident, and the campaign's response on the day of the event.

It was revealed that A is a personal trainer and director of a gym with ties to Jeong.

On July 1, police requested arrest warrants for both individuals, and prosecutors filed for the warrants on July 3, leading to the hearing on July 8.

Additionally, police are investigating potential violations of medical laws at the hospital run by Jeong's father, where he was treated after the alleged attack. They are looking into the circumstances surrounding his diagnosis and the issuance of medical records.

There are also allegations that employees of a subsidiary of Jeong's father's company were mobilized for his campaign, and that a polling research firm associated with the group included questions that could be interpreted favorably for Jeong.

If the court issues an arrest warrant for Jeong, it is expected to accelerate the police investigation. Conversely, if the warrant is denied, it may raise concerns about the adequacy of the evidence presented and weaken the momentum of the investigation.