40s Arrested for Assaulting Election Commission Staff, Tearing Ballots, and Causing Disturbance

A man in his 40s who tore up a ballot paper and threatened election commission staff at an early voting station in Gwangju was arrested by the police. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Min Jun-young, Intern Reporter] A man in his 40s who caused a disturbance by damaging ballots at a polling station in Gwangju was arrested by the police.

The Gwangju Bukbu Police Station announced on the 10th that they have detained and are investigating Mr. A (46) on charges of damaging ballots (violation of the Public Official Election Act).

Mr. A is accused of tearing a ballot paper in half at the Mudeung Comprehensive Social Welfare Center early voting station in Duam 3-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju, around 6:10 a.m. that day, and then returning to the polling station at 9:07 a.m. to cause a disturbance.

It was found that Mr. A put one half of the torn ballot into the ballot box and discarded the other half on the floor.

The voter reportedly also assaulted an election commission staff member who asked about the circumstances of the ballot damage at the scene.

The Central Election Commission (CEC) staff took Mr. A to the Buk-gu Election Commission investigation room for questioning on charges of violating election laws.

The election commission staff stated that Mr. A smelled of alcohol during the investigation.

According to the police, Mr. A, who was intoxicated, was dissatisfied with the temperature check procedure implemented to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Mr. A is a basic livelihood security recipient and is known to have caused disturbances multiple times at the local community center.

The police suspect that Mr. A shows symptoms of alcohol addiction and are investigating the exact motive behind the crime.