Yeo Hong-seokjun: "Penalties for Election Campaigning Using Loudspeakers Should Be Eased"

Proposal Submitted to Change 'Punishment' to Subject of Fine Imposition

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Hyun-ji] Punishments for election campaigning using loudspeakers are expected to be eased.

On the 29th, Hong Seok-jun, a member of the People Power Party (Daegu Dalseo District), announced that he has introduced a revision bill to the Public Official Election Act that changes election campaigning using loudspeakers from a criminal offense to a subject of fines.

If the revision bill passes, those who engage in such acts are expected to avoid disqualification from election victory. Under the current Public Official Election Act, elected officials who receive a fine of 1 million won or more are disqualified from election, but using loudspeakers for election campaigning results in imprisonment for up to two years or a fine of up to 4 million won.

According to the Central Election Management Committee’s data on ‘Violations of Election Campaign Period Using Loudspeakers,’ in this year’s June 1 local elections, there were 3 complaints, 1 investigation request, and 24 warnings, while in the presidential election of the same year, there were 8 complaints, 1 investigation request, and 2 warnings.

Representative Hong Seok-jun stated, “Although the election law was revised to allow verbal election campaigning at any time, excessive criminal penalties are still imposed simply for using loudspeakers,” adding, “For minor violations that are not fraudulent elections, the balance between illegal acts and punishments should be achieved by improving excessive penalties to fines or similar measures.”