Probe Launched over Use of President’s Identity in UNDP primary

Seoul metropolitan police agency announced on September 19 that it has formally launched a probe into allegations that the president’s name appeared on the list of Electoral College voters for the United New Democratic Party’s primary election, at the request of the UNDP.

“We initiated our investigation by tracing the IP address through which the president’s personal information was stolen, and was brought by the UNDP. A person may face criminal charges, such as fabrication of personal information, obstruction of duty and violation of resident registration law if the president’s identity was used on the Internet without his consent.”

He also added, “Although we were requested to investigate the president’s identity theft case, expansion of the probe is possible if it is found that others’ identities were also stolen.”

Lim Nae-hyeon, chair of fair election committee of the UNDP, asked police to launch an investigation on September 18, claiming that on August 23, someone had registered as a member of the primary election college using the president’s name and registration number.

fineday@donga.com