Seoul police investigate 304 election crime cases

June 1 (Asia Today) -- Seoul police are investigating 304 election crime cases tied to South Korea's June 3 local elections and have arrested three suspects accused of assaulting campaign workers, officials said Monday.

Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Commissioner Park Jung-bo told a regular news briefing that police had received 322 cases linked to the local elections and were investigating 304 of them.

Park said the number and types of alleged offenses were broadly similar to those seen during the previous local elections.

Police are also responding to election crimes involving artificial intelligence after revisions to the Public Official Election Act added new AI-related provisions. Eight AI-related cases are under investigation, but no arrests have been made in those cases.

Park said police had strengthened preparations because of concerns that AI-related election crimes could increase.

"So far, such crimes have not occurred at a level that would cause serious concern," Park said. "There have also been no unexpected new types of cases."

On Seoul mayoral candidate Oh Se-hoon's request to suspend police protection so he can communicate more directly with voters, Park said Oh's formal protection detail had been lifted but that police would still provide personal safety support during campaign events.

"When he campaigns, the local police station will provide personal protection," Park said. "He is not in an unprotected situation."

Police plan to maintain candidate protection and strengthen security at polling and vote-counting sites through Election Day.

On voting day, police will issue the highest-level emergency alert nationwide and reinforce security for ballot box transport and vote-counting centers.

"There are three days left before the election, including today," Park said. "We will do our utmost to ensure that voting takes place safely."

Park said investigations will continue even after the election.

"Even after the election is over, we will continue investigations so that those who committed election crimes are held accountable to the end," he said.

-- Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

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Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260601010000199

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This story was originally published June 1, 2026 at 10:50 PM.