Staged Attack Exposed: How Former Busan Mayoral Candidate Jeong Yi-han Was Caught

"This beverage terror attack is a grave crime that seeks to block the challenge of a young politician and shake the foundations of democracy."

This was the statement released by the camp of Jeong Yi-han, a former Reform Party candidate for Busan mayor, on April 27 during the election period, after reporting an alleged attack. Jeong was arrested by police on July 8 on charges including obstruction of justice by deception and violation of the Public Official Election Act for staging the incident.

At the time, an official from the election camp reported to the police that around 9:00 a.m. on the day of the incident, Jeong was struck by a beverage thrown from a passing vehicle while campaigning near the Guseo Interchange in Geumjeong-gu, Busan, and collapsed.

Deeming the matter serious, the police emergency-arrested a man in his 30s, identified as A, on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act (obstruction of election freedom).


It was reported that A had hurled insults and verbal abuse at the young politician, saying, "What is a young punk like you doing running for mayor?"

Public interest in Jeong, a political newcomer who had become a victim of a "beverage terror," grew significantly.

Jeong even visited A in person and submitted a petition for leniency.

Two days after the incident, he returned to the campaign trail wearing a neck brace.

However, it turned out that the entire incident was a staged act, planned in advance by Jeong and A, a friend of 10 years who had previously worked as his personal trainer, in an attempt to gain an advantage in the election.

The clue to the staged act was discovered about half a month after the report of the attack was filed with the police.

Following standard investigative procedures, the police obtained a communications warrant for A's mobile phone and analyzed his call logs.

Contrary to police expectations, the records revealed that Jeong and the perpetrator, A, had communicated multiple times before the incident.

The police shifted the focus of the investigation from obstruction of election freedom to charges including obstruction of justice by deception and began gathering evidence.

To this end, they launched a full-scale investigation, including search and seizure operations at their residences.

Ultimately, in mid-May, Jeong appeared at the police station and confessed to the staged act he and A had carried out.

A reportedly told police during questioning, "I wanted to help Jeong. I didn't know it would turn into such a big deal."

On June 4, the day after the election, police conducted searches at the election office, residences, and a gym.

During the searches, they also secured CCTV footage showing Jeong and A talking together at the gym.

The police currently believe that no one other than Jeong and A conspired or participated in the staged act.


Ahn Young-bong, head of the investigation department at the Busan Metropolitan Police Agency, stated, "This is an unprecedented case in terms of violations of the Public Official Election Act," adding, "We conducted the investigation with the judgment that acts undermining fair elections must be strictly punished."

When asked if the search and seizure warrants could have been executed before the election, he explained, "From the perspective of the prosecution and police, proving the crime was more important than the potential impact on the election."

The police plan to refer the case to the prosecution next week after conducting additional investigations, including whether there were any financial transactions between the two.

Separately, the circumstances surrounding the issuance of Jeong's medical certificate are also under investigation for potential violations of the Medical Service Act.

A separate investigation is also underway regarding allegations that employees of On Group affiliates, run by Jeong's father, were mobilized for election campaigning.

Controversies regarding the fairness of polling organizations related to Jeong are also being investigated separately.
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.