Yoo Jeong-bok, the mayor of Incheon, is embroiled in legal issues regarding allegations of violating election laws through unauthorized campaigning methods. He has made a request to the court to postpone the official trial proceedings until after the local elections scheduled for June 3rd, arguing that the ongoing trial could negatively impact his participation in the elections. His request comes as the law stipulates that a first trial's verdict on election law violations must be delivered within six months of prosecution, a timeline that would be compromised if the trial is delayed until after the elections.

In a recent court session, Yoo was absent due to a trip to the UK, and his attorney highlighted the challenges faced by current mayors who are simultaneously running for reelection while dealing with legal matters. He contended that mandating the mayor to both fulfill his public duties and participate in a trial would essentially force him to abandon his campaign. The attorney further argued that the nature of the allegations, which relate to his actions during a party primary rather than during the last local election, are not subject to the statutory timeline outlined in the election laws.

Yoo Jeong-bok has vigorously denied the allegations against him, which include accusations of having used city officials to promote campaign messages on his social media platforms in the run-up to the presidential election last year. The implications of this case extend beyond Yoo personally, potentially affecting public trust in the electoral process in South Korea, especially regarding the adherence to election laws designed to ensure fairness and integrity during the election period.