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Yoo Jeong-bok's side: "Helped candidate Yoo's elder brother with investment... an incident where they were deceived and suffered damage before taking public office"
Park Chan-dae's side: "It's clear that virtual assets were not declared... reviewing filing a complaint on charges of violating election law, etc."
Incheon mayoral election race intensifies
Ahead of the Incheon mayoral election on the 3rd of next month, the election race is intensifying as allegations of 'omission of virtual asset declaration in the spouse's name' by People Power Party's Yoo Jeong-bok, candidate for Incheon Mayor, have emerged as a key issue.
Recently, a media outlet reported that '21,000 virtual assets held by candidate Yoo's spouse were not included in the property declaration at the time of candidate registration,' and the Democratic Party of Korea's Park Chan-dae, candidate for Incheon Mayor, called for candidate Yoo's explanation.
In this regard, candidate Yoo's side came forward on the 20th to explain that 'it is not subject to property declaration,' but candidate Park's side, stating that 'the suspicions have not been resolved,' pulled out a complaint card targeting candidate Yoo.
Candidate Yoo's election campaign committee (Jeongbok Camp) stated in a press release today that "it is by no means hidden assets or nominee ownership, but an incident where candidate Yoo's family was deceived by Mr. A, who claimed to be a virtual asset expert, and suffered enormous damage when candidate Yoo was a private citizen before taking public office."
Candidate Yoo's side explained that the virtual assets mentioned this time are not candidate Yoo's spouse's assets, but are the proceeds from the sale of candidate Yoo's elder brother's real estate.
Jeongbok Camp added, "Candidate Yoo's spouse, who intended to help candidate Yoo's elder brother who was ignorant of coin investment, merely conducted transactions through her own account while being deceived by Mr. A, and it was not an investment asset for the purpose of candidate Yoo's proactive wealth accumulation."
Jeongbok Camp added, "The assets purchased under Mr. A's instructions have plummeted in price, resulting in severe losses," and "Candidate Yoo's spouse could not consider this as her own property subject to declaration and recognized it as 'recoverable damaged assets' that should be returned and settled with candidate Yoo's elder brother."
Furthermore, it stated, "We are reviewing filing a criminal complaint against Mr. A on charges of fraud and spreading false information, etc., and will take strong legal action against media outlets that falsely or distortingly report one-sided claims."
Candidate Park Chan-dae's election campaign committee (Dangchan Camp) issued a statement immediately after candidate Yoo's side's explanation came out, stating that "no suspicions have been resolved" and continued its offensive, saying, "Candidate Yoo made a typical 'save myself only' explanation."
Regarding candidate Yoo's side's explanation that the virtual assets omitted from the property declaration are 'his elder brother's assets' and that the transaction 'occurred before taking public office,' it stated, "This does not align at all with the facts revealed in the recording (related to the suspicions)."
Dangchan Camp emphasized that "even if the assets were formed before taking office (as mayor), there is an obligation to declare assets under the Public Official Election Act" and that "the fact that virtual assets in the spouse's name were not declared is a clear fact revealed in candidate Yoo's side's explanation."
Furthermore, it stated, "Even if we accept candidate Yoo's side's explanation, if there was no gift procedure, it ultimately means that nominee assets were operated," and "We are reviewing whether to file a complaint against candidate Yoo on charges of violating the Public Service Ethics Act and the Public Official Election Act in connection with this matter."
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