In the April 15 general election, Hong Jun-pyo, an independent candidate running in the Suseong-gu B district of Daegu, reported receiving a terror threat during a campaign event. The photo shows an unidentified man making the threat. Photo by Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-eun] A man who placed a cola bottle and swung a golf club in front of the campaign vehicle of independent lawmaker Hong Joon-pyo during the April 15 general election was sentenced to probation.
The Criminal Division 11 of Daegu District Court (Presiding Judge Kim Sang-yoon) on the 3rd sentenced A (46), who was tried for violating the Public Official Election Act and other charges, to six months in prison, two years of probation, 120 hours of community service, and confiscation of one golf club seized as evidence.
The court stated, "It is necessary to strictly punish the infringement of the freedom of elections, a fundamental social legal interest in democratic politics. The degree of threat to the candidate and others is also not light," but added, "We took into account favorably that the defendant confessed to the crime and showed remorse, and that he has no prior record of election crimes."
A was indicted for placing a cola PET bottle and swinging a golf club several times while cursing in front of Hong’s campaign vehicle during a speech at Dosan Intersection in Suseong-gu, Daegu on April 13. At the time, A cursed at candidate Hong during the campaign, saying, "Where do you think this is that you came out?" while swinging the golf club, and fled the scene by car when Hong’s team tried to stop him.
At that time, Hong’s team explained that the man’s act of breaking the PET bottle was a threat referencing Hong’s YouTube channel, "HongkaCola."
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