Ulsan Mayor Questioned by Police Over Election-Law Complaint

Ulsan Mayor Kim Sang-wook underwent about three hours of police questioning Sunday in his first appearance before investigators over complaints that include an alleged election-law violation.

Kim arrived at the Ulsan Metropolitan Police Agency at around 8 a.m. and spoke to reporters after the questioning. He said investigators had asked him about several matters and that he had provided sufficient explanations. He denied violating the law and argued that repeated complaints and rumors had caused confusion among residents and harmed him personally.

The questioning was expected to focus on allegations stemming from the candidate-unification process ahead of South Korea’s June 3 local elections. Kim was involved in a contest to select a unified candidate representing the Democratic Party and the Progressive Party. His campaign halted an opinion poll during that process, saying there were signs that organized intervention by some groups may have affected it.

The Progressive Party later accepted a rerun of the contest, and Kim emerged as the unified candidate before winning the Ulsan mayoral election. The Ulsan branch of the People Power Party subsequently filed a complaint accusing him of publishing false information under the Public Official Election Act and of obstruction of business under the Criminal Act.

The complainants contend that organized intervention had not been established and allege that Kim presented the suspension as if the polling company had detected an irregularity. They argue that the statement influenced the election. The filing of a complaint does not establish guilt, and police have not announced a conclusion in the case.

Kim has also reportedly been named in a separate complaint involving an allegation that he purchased sexual services in the Philippines. Another complaint received by police alleges that people connected to the matter delivered money to an individual in an attempt to suppress the allegation. Kim has rejected the claims surrounding him.

In a social media statement posted Saturday, Kim said that if authorities clear him of the prostitution-related allegation, those who raised what he called false claims should take political responsibility, including by leaving politics or resigning elected office.

Sunday’s appearance marked the first time Kim had reported to police for questioning in the investigations. The case places scrutiny on both the disputed nomination process and the additional allegations while investigators assess the complaints and Kim’s explanations.