Democratic Party Criticizes Lee Jun-seok's Consecutive Trips to Gwangju: "Excessive Fuss... Banners Also Vandalized in Daegu"

Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the People Power Party, is re-hanging the banners of Gwangju candidates that were damaged the previous day on the street in front of the back gate of Chonnam National University in Buk-gu, Gwangju on the 20th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] The Democratic Party of Korea expressed displeasure toward Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the People Power Party, who visited Gwangju for two consecutive days citing the damage of the People Power Party candidates' banners in the June 1 local elections.

On the 21st, the Democratic Party's Gwangju branch stated in a commentary, "Lee Jun-seok's arrogance has gone too far," and urged him to "stop threatening the citizens of Gwangju."

Earlier, on the 19th, Lee visited Gwangju to rehang the election banners of Ju Ki-hwan, the People Power Party candidate for mayor of Buk-gu, Gwangju, and Kwak Seung-yong, the candidate for the Buk-gu district council, after their banners were damaged. However, the next day, Kwak Seung-yong's banner was damaged again, leading Lee to carry out banner replacement work in Gwangju for two consecutive days. He also criticized the perpetrators of the banner damage, saying they were "not citizens of Gwangju but merely villains."

In response, the Democratic Party dismissed Lee's actions as excessive fuss. They noted that damage to candidates' banners or posters often occurs during election periods.

While expressing regret and sorrow over the damage to the People Power Party's banners, the Democratic Party pointed out, "In Daegu, Democratic Party candidates' banners are also damaged, but the party leader does not threaten those who damage the banners."

They added, "Lee made threatening remarks during a meeting with the perpetrators, demanding that they truthfully disclose whether the acts were accidental," criticizing, "Such behavior is excessive, an overreaction, and a threat to the citizens."

Furthermore, they stated, "Threatening as if there is an organized backing behind a citizen's accidental act is condemnable," and added, "Visiting Gwangju twice over damage incidents occurring nationwide is labeling the citizens as villains. Behave appropriately as the leader of the ruling party."

Meanwhile, according to Article 240, Paragraph 1 of the Public Official Election Act, anyone who, without justifiable reason, obstructs the creation, posting, or attachment of posters, banners, or other promotional materials, or damages or removes them, may be punished by imprisonment of up to two years or a fine of up to 4 million won.