'Park Geun-hye Fraud Impeachment Invalid' Who on Earth Wrote This? [Han Seung-gon's Reporting Notebook]

Graffiti Saying 'Impeachment Fraud Invalid' Found in Busy Areas Like Jongno and Euljiro, Seoul
Criticism Ranges from Suspicions of Park Geun-hye Supporters to Complaints About Damage to Public Facilities
Experts Say "Denial of Impeachment Is Genuine... Concrete Support Base"

Someone wrote "Fraud Impeachment Invalid" on a ground transformer located in the Euljiro area of Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Seunggon Han hsg@asiae.co.kr

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] [Editor's Note] We bring you behind-the-scenes stories from our reporting that were not included in the articles. We faithfully convey the vivid stories we heard and noted down on site to our readers.

"Because President Park Geun-hye is there, the country is still at this level." , "This is an impeachment due to political conspiracy."

After the article '''Park Geun-hye Fraud Impeachment Null and Void' Found Throughout the City…Who Wrote It?'' was published on the 21st, many readers informed us that they had seen graffiti saying 'Park Geun-hye Impeachment Null and Void' such as "There is such graffiti in our neighborhood," "I have seen it for over a year," and "No matter how many times it is erased, someone keeps writing it."

According to readers' opinions and other information, the locations where these phrases were found were diverse. Not only in the Jongno and Euljiro areas of Seoul mentioned in the article, but also along subway lines such as Line 1 and Line 2, the phrase 'Fraud Impeachment Null and Void' was reported to be seen indiscriminately across various locations. This suggests that the phrase is widely spread throughout the city.

The places where the graffiti was found were also varied. Near crosswalks, on ground-level transformers, around bus stops, on shutters of large stores?literally no area or place was spared.

There is also a commonality. The graffiti saying 'Fraud Impeachment Null and Void' was mainly found concentrated at public transportation stops or crosswalks with heavy foot traffic. For example, the phrase was written in places where many people pass by, presumably to spread the writer's claim more widely.

Graffiti painted all over the busy streets of Seoul. Not only on store shutters but also on public facilities, they are filled with unknown drawings and writings. Photo by Han Seung-gon hsg@asiae.co.kr

There is further controversy surrounding this graffiti. It concerns damage to public property. Since political messages are written on crosswalks, benches at stops, and outer walls of streets, it not only harms the city's aesthetics but also frequently causes conflicts.

Graffiti on walls, utility poles, and various places throughout the city is all illegal.

According to current law, writing on building walls and public facilities without permission is punishable under property damage laws. If charged with property damage, one can face up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 7 million won.

On the morning of March 10, 2017, the day of the impeachment trial verdict of President Park Geun-hye, citizens are watching the live broadcast of the impeachment trial in the waiting room of Seoul Station. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, the 'Fraud Impeachment Null and Void' graffiti is presumed to be the work of supporters who deny the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye (hereafter referred to without honorifics).

During reporting, a man in his 50s who identified himself as a Park Geun-hye supporter did not acknowledge the Constitutional Court's (Constitutional Tribunal) dismissal of former President Park. He claimed, "The Constitutional Court's decision itself is political," and "This impeachment is a political conspiracy."

Another man in his 60s met in the Jongno area of Seoul raised his voice beyond denying the impeachment, claiming it was an attack by the Moon Jae-in administration.

He asserted, "This is a fraud created by the ruling party of the Moon Jae-in government." He defined the Constitutional Court's decision as fraud and claimed that Park Geun-hye is still the president. Following the claim that the Constitutional Court's decision was fraudulent, he also argued that President Moon Jae-in committed fraud and should immediately step down.

Looking briefly back at the dismissal of former President Park, the Constitutional Court's decision was made on March 10, 2017. At 11 a.m. that day, the Constitutional Court held the ruling session for the impeachment trial of President Park Geun-hye and unanimously decided to dismiss the president.

At that time, Acting Chief Justice Lee Jung-mi confirmed the order to "dismiss the respondent President Park Geun-hye" during the impeachment ruling.

This decision came 92 days after the National Assembly passed the impeachment motion on December 9, 2016, and submitted it to the Constitutional Court. It was the first dismissal of a sitting president in the history of the Republic of Korea's constitutional system.

Someone wrote "Fraud Impeachment Invalid" on a ground transformer placed in a busy area of Seoul. Photo by Seunggon Han hsg@asiae.co.kr

Political commentators analyzed that the baseless claims are sincere among supporters and resemble a kind of faith. They explained that this situation can be understood as stemming from the so-called 'Park Geun-hye Concrete Support Base.'

Political commentator Lee Jong-hoon analyzed, "Supporters who claim that Park Geun-hye's impeachment is null and void are sincere," and "They hold the same level of respect not only for Park Geun-hye but also for Park Chung-hee."

Lee further explained, "They are the support base called the 'concrete support base.' It can be seen as a kind of faith," and added, "Within the support base, one can understand that they are so frustrated that they resort to such actions, doing the best they can in response to the lack of reaction to their claims of impeachment nullity."