[Asia Economy Reporter Shinwon Yoon] Writer Gong Ji-young, who posted the phrase "Let's vote well" on her social network service (SNS) amid the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) centered in Daegu and Gyeongbuk, has been reported for violating election laws.
The civic group "Election Manipulation Monitoring and Reporting Team" held a press conference in front of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office on the 3rd and announced that they had reported Gong and seven netizens for election law violations and defamation under the Information and Communications Network Act.
The issue arose from a post Gong wrote on her Facebook on the 28th of last month. At that time, Gong posted a photo emphasizing the high number of COVID-19 confirmed cases and deaths in Daegu and Gyeongbuk along with the phrase "Let's vote well," which gave the impression that the current suffering was due to many residents of Daegu and Gyeongbuk having voted poorly.
Additionally, she was also reported for retweeting on Twitter the next day another person's post that said, "COVID-19 seems to be telling us to vote properly."
The controversy further escalated when former Dongyang University professor Jin Joong-kwon criticized Gong's post. Jin said, "Gong Ji-young, you’ve finally lost it. No matter how obsessed you are with politics, is that something to say in this situation?"
In response, Gong explained, "Aren't the mayors and governors of Daegu and Gyeongbuk people who still support the Park Geun-hye administration that showed no remorse even after sending the Sewol ferry children away?" and added, "I pointed out that the result of voting for such people could lead to a lukewarm response to this disaster."
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