Lee Jae-myung Hit by Flying Bowl During Election Campaign...60-Year-Old Man Arrested On Site Saying "It's Noisy"

Lee Jae-myung, the General Election Committee Chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea, who is running in the by-election for the National Assembly member of Gyeyang-eul, Incheon, is campaigning around Gyulhyeon-dong, Gyeyang-gu, Incheon on the 20th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] It has been revealed that a man in his 60s who threw a metal bowl at Lee Jae-myung, the General Election Committee Chairperson of the Democratic Party of Korea running in the Incheon Gyeyang-eul by-election, committed the act because the election campaign was noisy.

According to Yonhap News on the 21st, the Incheon Gyeyang Police Station stated that the man in his 60s, Mr. A, who was arrested on charges of election interference under the Public Official Election Act, testified during police investigation that "I was drinking, and it was noisy and made me feel bad, so I did it."

Mr. A is accused of throwing a metal bowl at candidate Lee, who was walking on the sidewalk outside a building at a restaurant in Gyesan-dong, Gyeyang-gu, Incheon, around 9:35 p.m. the previous day, thereby interfering with the election campaign.

At the time, candidate Lee was conducting a street campaign with Yoon Hwan, candidate for Gyeyang District Mayor, and Jo Deok-je, candidate for district council member. Mr. A, who was having drinks with acquaintances on the first-floor outdoor terrace, reportedly threw the metal bowl containing chicken bones as candidate Lee passed by. There were also young students around candidate Lee, but fortunately, no one was injured.

The police are assessing the extent of candidate Lee's injuries and plan to conduct further investigations on Mr. A before considering whether to apply for an arrest warrant.

Meanwhile, there was also an incident where a citizen swore at candidate Lee during a previous campaign event. According to YouTube and other sources on the 19th, candidate Lee's team held a campaign near Imhak-dong, Gyeyang-gu, Incheon the day before. At that time, a passenger in a black van, which was moving slowly due to traffic blocking the campaign vehicle, rolled down the window and swore. Upon hearing this, candidate Lee reportedly warned, "Swearing is a criminal act."