The prosecution has ordered a reinvestigation into two former high-ranking presidential officials over their suspected involvement in the election meddling scandal surrounding the 2018 mayoral election in the southeastern city of Ulsan, officials said Thursday.

The Seoul High Prosecutors Office issued the order to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office, determining that an additional investigation into former presidential chief of staff Im Jong-seok and former senior presidential secretary for civil affairs Cho Kuk is necessary, the officials said.

The scandal centers on allegations that Song Cheol-ho, a longtime friend of former President Moon Jae-in, conspired with then Ulsan police chief Hwang Un-ha and other presidential aides to open an investigation into suspicions involving aides of then Ulsan Mayor Kim Gi-hyeon ahead of the 2018 mayoral election.

Song ultimately beat Kim of the People Power Party in the election and served as Ulsan mayor from 2018-22. In November, a district court found both Song and Hwang guilty, and sentenced them to a three-year prison term.

"After closely going through previous investigation records and the court verdict, we have decided that an additional investigation is necessary," the Seoul High Prosecutors Office said.

Im and Cho had been previously investigated as part of the probe into the scandal in 2020. The prosecution at that time decided not to indict them due to insufficient evidence, while indicting 13 others, including Song and Hwang, on charges of election meddling.

The ruling People Power Party has since appealed the decision.

Im and Cho both served in their respective positions from 2017-19 under the previous Moon administration, and Cho later served as justice minister. (Yonhap)