Kim Young-hwan, the governor of Chungbuk province and a candidate for re-election, finds himself in a precarious situation after being dismissed from the candidate nominations by the People Power Party, coupled with an ongoing police investigation into alleged bribery. On April 17, it was reported that the police had sought an arrest warrant for him on charges of accepting 31 million KRW from a businessman connected to Chungbuk's sports community, marking a significant development in his legal troubles. Kim, however, denies the allegations and remains committed to running in the local elections.

The police are investigating claims that Kim received a total of 11 million KRW in bribes from figures within Chungbuk's sports sector between April and June of the previous year. Furthermore, they allege that he facilitated the payment of 20 million KRW for renovations to his leisure facility, in exchange for influencing the participation of a company in a smart farming project. This corruption investigation has led to the identification and non-custodial restraint of three business executives who allegedly provided him with money, as well as efforts to apprehend a contractor accused of providing false testimony under duress from Kim’s circle.

Overall, the police have emphasized that they began their inquiry based on tips regarding the alleged bribery in August of last year, culminating in a search of Kim's office and those of implicated businesses. Following a thorough review of the evidence and legal circumstances related to the case, the police submitted their findings for review by the prosecution, while Kim continues to assert his innocence. He has stated that if the accusations are proven true, he would step down from politics, indicating the potential ramifications of this scandal not just for his career, but also for the integrity of the local political landscape in Chungbuk.