[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yoon Jamin] The campaign team of Kim Seonghwan, candidate for the National Assembly representing Dongnam district of Gwangju Metropolitan City, demanded on the 10th that “the campaign team of candidate Lee Byunghun officially apologize for the violent incident that occurred at the election campaign site on the 3rd and take appropriate responsibility.”
Kim Seonghwan’s campaign team claimed that around 7 p.m. on the 3rd at Yanglim Intersection, election staff from Lee Byunghun’s campaign obstructed the election campaign by striking the arm of a female election staff member from Kim Seonghwan’s team and committing acts of violence.
During this incident, the female staff member’s mobile phone was damaged, causing a commotion. The police were dispatched at the scene, and a representative from Lee’s campaign apologized and promised to compensate for the damages, which temporarily settled the matter.
However, the female staff member who was harmed reportedly filed a criminal complaint on the 9th, stating that despite a considerable amount of time having passed since the incident, those who had promised to take responsibility on behalf of Lee’s campaign at the scene avoided responsibility by claiming it was a personal issue between individual campaign workers.
Meanwhile, under the Public Official Election Act, the crime of interfering with election freedom can result in imprisonment of up to 10 years or a fine ranging from 5 million to 30 million Korean won if election staff or candidates are assaulted or threatened.
A representative from Kim Seonghwan’s campaign stated, “We have conducted our campaign more cleanly and fairly than any other camp so far,” and added, “A dignified election campaign is an essential process for dignified politics, and such arrogant behavior by Lee’s campaign disappoints voters who expect dignified politics.”
A representative from Lee’s campaign said, “Since this was an incident between individual campaign workers, it is not something the candidate’s team can resolve,” and added, “We only hope that the workers reach an amicable agreement and that this does not come to be seen as a disparagement between the camps.”
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