Following 'Dolmengi-nam', Poster Vandalism Also... Repeated 'Misogynistic Violence' During Election Campaigns

Shoulder Shoving and Poster Vandalism... Consecutive 'Misogynistic' Election Disruption Acts
Women's Party: "Disruptions Targeting Female Candidates Are Evidence of Violence Against Women"
Voters Launch '#DoNotThrowStonesAtWomen' Hashtag Campaign on SNS
Women's Groups: "Violence Against Female Candidates' Campaigns Must Not Be Overlooked"

On the 4th, at Exit 9 of Hongdae Entrance Station on Seoul Subway Line 2, Lee Ji-won, a proportional representation candidate of the Women's Party, and members of the Women's Party were campaigning/Photo by Lee Ji-won, proportional representation candidate of the Women's Party, Twitter capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ga-yeon] With the 21st National Assembly general election just six days away, acts of violence and election interference targeting female candidates are occurring repeatedly. Women's groups strongly criticized these violent acts as clear discrimination and misogyny.

On the official start day of the election campaign, at around 6:36 p.m. on the 2nd, near Exit 9 of Hongdaeipgu Station on Seoul Subway Line 2, a man threw a stone at a member of the Women's Party who was campaigning and then fled. The victim was found to have been hit on the calf by the stone.

The police stated that since the victim was a 'volunteer' rather than a 'campaign staff' registered with the election commission, it is difficult to apply charges under the Public Official Election Act. However, they are tracking the male perpetrator based on nearby CCTV footage.

The Women's Party issued a statement titled "The incident during the election campaign at Hongdaeipgu Station is a clear case of misogynistic terror," strongly condemning, "The man did not throw the stone only at the volunteer but at the 'women' conducting the election campaign."

They added, "That stone symbolizes all forms of misogyny that men inflict on women," and argued, "The fact that men threw stones as soon as 'digital sex crime punishment' was mentioned clearly shows the position of women's human rights."

Regarding the police stance that it is difficult to apply charges under the Public Official Election Act to the male perpetrator, the party said, "According to the 2018 Public Official Election Act Punishment Interpretation issued by the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, volunteers are also protected under the relevant law (Article 237 of the Public Official Election Act)." They condemned, "This case is not merely a matter of legal interpretation. It is evidence of women's violence, showing that when women resist male groups to protect their safety, they are at risk of violence in any form." They urged that the case be sent with a prosecution opinion for violation of the Public Official Election Act.

Around 2:30 PM on the 7th, an election poster of Shin Min-ju, the Basic Income Party candidate for Eunpyeong District in Seoul, was found damaged with a sharp object in a residential area of Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

Kim Joo-hee, the Women's Party proportional representation candidate, also revealed that on the 6th, while campaigning at an intersection in Michuhol-gu, Incheon, men passing by deliberately pushed her shoulder.

Kim said that day, "There was even a man who asked the volunteer for the party office address and said he would come find us," adding, "While campaigning, I deeply feel and personally experience why a party named after 'women' is necessary."

On the 7th, a campaign poster of a female candidate bearing the slogan "Your Feminist National Assembly Member" was also vandalized.

According to the Basic Income Party, at around 2:30 p.m. that day, a campaign poster of Shin Min-ju, the party's candidate for Eunpyeong District, was found torn, prompting a police investigation. Shin's poster was found with tears around the eyes, mouth, and neck areas.

Shin expressed her distress on social media, saying, "Someone slashed my face on the poster multiple times with a knife. The posters of other male candidates posted right next to mine were intact," and added, "I faced misogyny once again."

As a result, voters also launched a hashtag campaign on social media with '#DoNotThrowStonesAtWomen,' condemning misogyny directed at candidates. It is pointed out that physically and verbally assaulting women campaigning simply because it "feels unpleasant" is clear misogyny.

Women's groups called violence against public election candidates a challenge to democracy and a crime, urging swift investigation and punishment.

The Korean Women's Associations United issued a statement on the 3rd, saying, "This is not the first time that candidates running as equal citizens have been hated and targeted for violence simply because they are 'women.' Female candidates have had their campaign posters vandalized, suffered online threats, and been exposed to physical violence just because they challenged the male-dominated politics."

They continued, "This is also the result of the election commission and police failing to properly respond to discrimination and hatred against women," emphasizing, "Violence against female candidates during election campaigns must never be tolerated under any circumstances."

Meanwhile, under the current Article 240 of the Public Official Election Act, anyone who obstructs or damages the creation, posting, or installation of posters, banners, or other promotional materials without just cause may face imprisonment of up to two years or a fine of up to 4 million won.