Seoul education chief arrested on election bribery charges

Seoul's education chief was detained on Saturday for further investigation into allegations that he bribed a rival candidate to drop out of last year's election.

A local court issued a warrant to allow the physical detention of Kwak No-hyun, superintendent of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, saying he may try to destroy evidence.

Kwak, who was elected to the post in June 2010, has already admitted to giving 200 million won (US$185,700) early this year to Park Myoung-gee, a rival candidate from the same liberal bloc who quit in the middle of the race.

"The facts of (Kwak's) crime have been confirmed and there is a reasonable concern that the suspect might attempt to destroy evidence," said Judge Kim Hwan-soo of the Seoul Central District Court, explaining the reason for approving an arrest warrant for Kwak.

Prosecutors suspect the money was a reward for Park's withdrawal, which contributed to Kwak's election victory. Kwak, however, has consistently denied the suspicions, claiming the money was given only as a gesture of "goodwill" for Park, who amassed heavy debts from his own election campaign before withdrawing his bid.

Park, a professor at Seoul National University of Education, has already been arrested on charges of violating the election law.

Kwak, if convicted of buying off his rival candidate, will be punished with a prison term of less than seven years or a fine of at least 5 million won and stripped of his post.

Following the arrest warrant issuance, Kwak was taken to a detention center.

(Yonhap)