The Election Commission: "Will Strictly Respond to Picket Protests"... Na Kyung-won: "Election Manipulation Using Official Power"

On the 30th, about two weeks before the 21st National Assembly election, a "Beautiful Election Sculpture" encouraging voting was installed at Cheonggyecheon in Seoul. The Seoul Metropolitan Election Commission installed sculptures featuring the slogan, catchphrase, and early voting period of this election along the section from Mojonggyo to Gwangtonggyo at Cheonggyecheon until April 15 to attract voters' attention and encourage participation in voting. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Cheol-eung] The National Election Commission will intensify crackdowns on illegal activities such as obstructing election campaigns with picket protests or throwing objects at election offices. This move comes after Na Kyung-won, a member of the United Future Party, claimed to be a victim of "election interference operations" and announced legal actions, and in consideration of a series of incidents including egg-throwing at Kim Boo-kyum, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea's election office.

The Election Commission announced on the 30th that it will strengthen the crackdown on serious election crimes such as spreading false information and defaming candidates ahead of the official start of election campaigns on the 2nd of next month.

In particular, acts that interfere with a candidate’s legitimate election campaign process by filming, tailing, or using banners, pickets, or signature campaigns are regarded as serious election crimes that undermine democratic election order, and strict measures will be taken.

The Election Commission also pointed out that non-face-to-face election campaigns using SNS such as KakaoTalk or YouTube are increasing due to the impact of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), and said it will respond swiftly to cyber election crimes through scientific investigation techniques such as digital forensics and 24-hour monitoring.

They will mobilize all enforcement personnel, including 17 metropolitan investigation teams nationwide and over 4,400 members of the Fair Election Support Group, to strengthen prevention and crackdown activities on illegal acts, while maintaining a reporting and reception system even during nights and holidays.

Na, who is running in the Dongjak-eul district of Seoul, claimed the day before that "the freedom and rights of election campaigning are being seriously infringed by blatant election interference operations by suspicious external forces." On the 28th, members of a group called 'Abe Condemnation Citizen Action (NO JAPAN 415.COM)' installed large advertisements on roads near the office for seven hours with slogans such as "Boycott pro-Japanese politicians," conducting a pro-Japanese frame performance targeting Na.

Na said, "The Election Commission delayed legal review, and the police used the excuse of an internal investigation, passing responsibility back and forth without taking official sanctions against their actions," adding, "The Election Commission filed a complaint with the police only after 5 p.m., around the time they withdrew. This was effectively an election operation supporting the ruling party candidate." He also stated, "I will take all possible legal actions."

Oh Se-hoon, the United Future Party candidate for Seoul Gwangjin-eul, also criticized the police for not actively restraining the picket protests by the Seoul National University Progressive Union (Seoul National University Jin-yeon). He held a one-person protest in front of the Gwangjin Police Station on the 23rd and 24th, and on the 25th, he and party officials visited the Election Commission and the National Police Agency to file complaints.